MUTILATED ON LINE.

Shannon News, 19 February 1924, Page 4

MUTILATED ON LINE.

PRINTER IN BLOOD-SPLASHED CARRIAGE.

Two mysterious railway tragedies occurred in tiro London district in No- - yember. , , , ‘ , A terribly- mutilated body found on the L.M.S. Railway line between St. Albans and St.- Pancras was identilied as Mr. Gerald Duncombe (73), son of a former Dean of York. Apparently he had fallen from on'e train and been caught by another in his fall. As far as is known Mr. Duncombe left Luton on a London train, apparently intending to alight at the wayside station of Radlett to visit his cousin, Sir George Duncombe,. Bart., at * Woodhall, Shenley. It is assumed that ■ he stepped out of the train by mistake, thinking it had arrived at a platform, and fell on to the line. Actually the train had slowed up out side the station owing to fog. As he was falling he must have been struck by an up train from St. ..Paneras, for upon arrival of this tram at Luton a man’s coat was found on the front of the 'engine. In the pockets were various papers and a card case which contained cards giving the name of Gerald Duncombe. of Arthur’s Club, .St. James. Mr. Duncombe, a .bachelor, was said to have been very feeble and to liav'e " had failing eyesight. The second mystery concerns the ■ death of Mr. Robert F. Miller (26) a printer, of Aylesbury; twho'was hangjin «• head downwards out of a carriage * window when a train from Aylesbury i, arrived at Marylcbone. His head was , badly injured. There was no evidence 1 .of foul play. • A passenger said he saw a man loan- : ing out. of a carriage window, and it is ' suggested , that while the train Avas • passing through a tunnel the man’s ’.head may have come into contact with „ an obstruction. There is an iron bar in the middle o± i the window of the door ivhieh Avould } make it difficult for anyone to lean out. One of. the.windows.was smashed and was covered Avith blood. : A curious fact is that the cl'ectnc ; bulb in the compartment had been removed from its socket and was lying .I.on-the seat near the window.