THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1921, Page 5

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

CORONERS ENQUIRY. An inquest was held at the Court House, New Plymouth, by the Coroner (Mr. A. Mowlem, S.Mj, in regard to the death of Joseph Fletcher, the victim of the railway accident at Lepperton last Saturday night. Frank Sayler, who was a fellowpassenger with deceased from Stratford, stated that at Lepperton deceased, who had previously informed witness that he was going to Waitara, got out of the train, and then returned saying it was too cold to wait on the platform, and he would get off when the train started. Witness warned him not to. He laid down in the carriage until the train started, when he got up and said he would get oft’. Witness again warned him, but lie replied: “I can get off all right.” He went out and closed the door behind him. The train was then travelling at about half speed. Shortly after deceased went outside the carriage witness felt a bump and heard some one yell out. The train was pulled up at once, and going back on the track, they found deceased lying mangled by the side of the line. He was quite conscious, and said: “I wish I could stand up.” He had told him on the journey that his name was Fletcher and his age 42 years. Deceased was somewhat under the influence of liquor. First was rendered by Dr. Alison, of Waitara. Corroborative evidence was given by Norman Adams, another fellow-passen-ger with deceased, Charles W. Thompson, signalman at lepperton station, and Ernest H. Fodgen, guard of the train by which deceased travelled. Deceased was conscious after the accident and gave his father’s address. Dr. Walker stated he was a passenger on the mail train on Saturday night, and first saw deceased in a room in Lepperton station, where he was receiving first aid from Dr. Alison, of ! Waitara. Deceased was suffering from grave degree of shock, the result of severe injuries.' He had a compound fracture of each leg, a simple fracture of the right thigh, and the muscles and soft parts generally of both legs were extremely lacerated. After first aid had been rendered he was placed in the mail train van on a stretcher, brought to New Plymouth, and admitted to the Hospital about 9 p.m. Everything possible was done during the night to overcome the shock, but without avail, and death ensued about 5.30 a.m. The cause of death was shock arising from gevtro injwitSk DtwMed gave LU

name as Joseph Paul Fletcher, and appeared to be about 40 years of age.

The Coroner said there was no doubt about the cause of death, but as the evidence in regard to identification was not strong, he would adjourn the inquest until 11 a.m. on Saturday next.