Shocking Railway Accident. Auckland, January 30.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 240, 4 February 1888, Page 4

Shocking Railway Accident. Auckland, January 30.

In our second edition yesterday was published a short account of a distressing fatality which occurred on the Auckland railway. It stated that the body of an aged man had been discovered near the 1 Newmarket railway-station in a shocklingly mutilated condition. Appended are the fuller particulars since obtained. It appears that shortly after 2 p.m.yester" day a shunting engine was on its way to town in charge of Driver Spratfc and Fireman Donaldson. Mr Taylor, inspector of the rolling stock, was also on the engine. When below the railway crossing they discovered the body of a man which was lying by the line. Mr Taylor jumped do'vn to examine the body. Life was already extinct, although the body was still warm, so that death had* not long occurred. The body was frightfully mangled. The legs were not attached, having evidently been cub off. On the head was a terrible scalp wound, and the features were so mutilated as to be almost unrecognisable. The deceased had a beard and moustache, which were tinged with grey. The growth had apparently been luxurious. Information was telephoned to the Auckland Police-station at 2.30 o'clock and Constable Collis, of Newmarket, was despatched to take possession of the remains, which Inspector Sherman ordered to be brought into the Morgue. Information of the distressing occurrence was also forwarded to Mr Hudson, Railway Manager, who gave instructions for the body to be sent down to town in a ballast train. Mr Duncan, the stationmaster at Newmarket, sent guard Lowe and platelayer McLaughlin down the line to search for the missing legs. These were recovered about eight feet within the tunnel at v the Parnell end of the tunnel, whereas the trunk was discovered two or three chains from the Newmarket end of the tunnel. The hat and part of the clothing of the deceased were recovered close to the legs. The limbs were cut oft just below the knee.

How the Accident Happened. There is little doubt that the unfortunate man was killed while attempting to walk through the tunnel. In fact, there*, are one or two circumstances which lead to a strong suspicion that suicide had been committed. At first it was thought that the deceased had been a passenger on the train. Mr Hudson telegraphed to Onehunga, where the two o'clock train ended its journey, to see if any light could be thrown upon the affair. None of the officials or passengers, however, could explain anything with regard to the accident. The station-master at Onehunga instituted inquiries and examined the train, but there were no traces of blood or other marks on the wheels of either the engineß or carriages. The guard and driver stated that they had observed nothing unusual on the trip. No shock had been felt, and no remarks were made by any of the passengers prior to leaving 1 the station.

The Body Identified. Late last evening the body was brought) to the Morgue. No money or papers were found in the pockets. This morning Constables ColHs and Hobson took Constable Howell to the Morgue, and he identified the remains as those of a man named George Lee, who was arrested by him for being drunk in Queen-street afc 10.15 p.m. on Saturday. Lee was sentenced to 24 hours' hard labour. When being; sent to Mount Eden Gaol, Lee said that lie "WOUld drown himself. Afc the time the police noticed that the man conducted himself strangely. Lee was discharged from Mount Eden ab 10 a.m. yesterday. He is described as an English labourer, aged 63 years, 5 feet 6^ inches high, medium build, pale complexion, with grey hair and eyes. He gave his religion as that of the Church of England. It is not afc present knowfi whether he has friends in the city. Further inquiries show that the unfortunate man must have been killed by a train which went to Newmarket at 2 p.m. yesterday under the care of Guard Tanner. Two carriages were cast off at Newmarket. About 5.30 o'clock Hem-y Keame, who is a porter at that station, went to shunt the carriages, when he noticed that the wheels were bespattered with blood. fl[e sent) word to Constable ColHs, who at once went down and examined the carriages. He discovered ample evidence that the wheels had passed over the unfortunate man, and recovered a large piece of flesh which was adhering to one wheel. As this train did not carry passengers there can be little doubt but that the man was either walking or lying in the tunnel when the accidehfc happened. This fact, coupled with his previous actions and expressions, gives colour to the idea that Lee committed suicide. — Auckland Star.