A SHUNTER'S DEATH.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 87, 11 April 1916, Page 2

A SHUNTER'S DEATH.

A TRAGIC AFFAIR: ' CHRISTCHURCH, April 8. An inquest was held to-day on the body of James Walls, a shunter, who was killed in +he Christ church railway station yesterday. J. P. Matheson, goods agent„ 'said that in his opinion the accident was due to inadvertence on the part of the unfortunate man. Deceased walked in front of the waggons which knocked him over. He kept, in the rails, instead of keeping on the side. The deceased'was healthy, practically a fit man. Witness knew the deceased asked to b e relieved of shunting duties. Witness told the deceased he had been engaged as a shunter, but gave him light work. The Department, however, held that as the deceased was engaged as a shunter, -he should do the work. Witness told the deceased this decision, and the deceased agreed to it. Dceased was hit by the waggons before h e turned round. His foot caught in a 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.

Th e . Oononer returned a verdict that the deceased was accidentally kirled by being nun over a by a railway truck.