ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 6, 10 April 1916, Page 2

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

A SHUNTERS'DEATH. Peb Pbebs Association. Christchurch, April S. An inquest was hold to-day on the body of James Walls, a shunter, aged 38, who was killed at Christchurch railway station on .Friday. Mr J. P. .Matheson, goods agent, stated that in his opinion the accident was due to inadvertence on the part of the unfortunate man. Deceased walked in front ot the waggons which knocked him over. He kept inside the rails instead of keeping on the outside. Deceased was healthy, and practically a fit man. Witness knew that deceased had asked to be relieved of shunting duties, and witness told deceased that he had been engaged as a shunter, but gave him light work. The Department, however, held that as deceased was engaged as a shunter, and said that he was fit for shunting work, he should do it. Witness told deceased this decision, and deceased agreed to it. Deceased was hit by the waggons before he turned round, and his foot caught in the switch. Deceased, when witness came up. said to witness, "I told you, Mr Matheson, this shunting would get me down." Deceased must have lost confidence in himself. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidentally killed by.being run over by a railway truck.