TRAIN SMASH.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1921, Page 5

TRAIN SMASH.

THE WELSH DISASTER. EVTWNCE AT THE INQUIRY; |. NEGLECT OF OFFICIALS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—-Copyright. London. Feb. 2. At the inquest into the Abermule railway disaster. Ernest Rogers, a 17-year-old porter at Abermule station, gave evidence that he released the tablet, permitting the express to enter the single line section from Newtown to Abermule without informing the stationmaster, who directly afterwards started the slow train from Abermule towards' Newtown by unwittingly handing back to the driver the tablet the latter brought over from the- preceding section, both failing to perceive the error. The traffic controller deposed to finding the fireman of the express wandering in a field carrying two tablets. He was dazed and unable to say where he found them. Witness assumed the fireman, in jumping from the engine took the tablet, permitting him to travel, and that the other tablet from the slow rain was flung in his direction as the result of the collision.—Reuter. STATIONMASTER’S ERROR. , GROSS NEGLIGENCE FOUND. Received Feb. 4, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 3. Lewis, the stationmaster at Abermule, burst into tears when giving evidence. He said he thought the boy i who handed him the tablet from the slow train said “Take the tablet”, whereas the boy declared that he asked Lewis to change the tablet. When Lewis realised the terrible situation he shouted to the signalman to drop the distance signal, but it was too late, A verdict of gross negligence was returned against. Lewis and Signalman ;Jones, and of negligence and excess of ‘duty against Rogers and a clerk named Thompson. The coroner said the finding amounted to a verdict of manslaughter against Lewis and Jones.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Asan. VERDICT REVISED. NO MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. Received Feb. 4, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 3. The jury reconsidered their verdict, and decided that Lewis and Jones deserved the severest censure, but their negligence did not amount to manslaughter.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.