TAKANINI

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 366, 9 April 1918, Page 3

TAKANINI

THE RAILWAY FATALITY

The adjourned enquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Mr Herman Johansen, a resident of Manurewa, aged 61, who was killed °n the railway at Takanini on Thursday prior to.Easter, was held before Mr Cecil Roadley, the District Coroner, last Saturday at the Papakura Court-house. Donald Allen Johansen, a returned soldier, deposed that he and his father left Manurewa to go to Auckland on the morning of the fatality but he (witness) did not return with him. Frank Hitchcock, a plumber, residing at Takanini, gave evidence to the effect that he noticed deceased in the 5.17 p.m. train from Auckland, deceased then being asleep. He (witness) got out of the train at Takanini and just after the train had left the station he saw the deceased's bpoy on the rails, life then being extinct. James Joseph Bovaird, guard on the train, stated that the train stooped at Takanini sufficient time for passengers to alight. Soon after leaving Takanini he was asked by a passenger if he had heard anyone fall from the train and he replied in the negative. He was not-aware of the accident until he arrived at Papakura. ('unstable Johnson, of Papakura, deposed to being called to Takanini and finding the body of the deceased, which bore indications of having been nm over by the train. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, remarking that the evidence was to the effect that whilst asleep the deceased had been carried beyond his destination (Manurewa) and then on waking up just as the train was leaving Takanini had attempted to alight whilst it was in motion,