THE BRIDE AND THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2686, 17 July 1894, Page 4

THE BRIDE AND THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS.

About nine months' ago Edward Bowles and his wife, a couple in humble circumstances, went for a modest honeymoon trip to Sandringham, which is on the seaside, some dozen or so miles from Melbourne. By some trains during the day passengers have to change at .Brighton Beach. By the particular train which carried the just-married couple, however, no changing was necesssery, but Bowles believed it was, aud he and bis wife got out of their carriage under that misapprehension. As the train N started away on its journey they rushed to get aboard, and the poor young woman slipped and fell under the train, with the result that before she was rescued her left .arm was bo badly crushed that it had to be amputated, and she was otherwise injured. * Bowles and his wife brought an action against the railway Commissioners, which was heard recently. The wife claimed £2OOO as damages for her injuries, and the husband £IOOO for the loss of her services and society. The plaintiffs alleged, that the accident was caused by the negligence of the railway officials in failing to give proper warning to passengers for Sandringham to keep their, seats and to assist passengers in re-entering the train,andin starting the train too abruptly; and by the defective lighting of the platform. The defence was a denial of negligence, and a plea that the plaintiff, Mrs Bowles, had been guilty of contributory negligence in attempting to re-enter the train while it was in motion. The judge summed up against the plaintiffs, but the jury gave them swinging verdicts. To Mrs Bowles they awarded the full sum she claimed, and to Mr Bowles £6ooout of his £IOOO. As the jury were not required to explain on what jjoupds they based their verdict, the Railway Pommissibhers are left -in'the dark as to the" point on which they or their servants were negligent; but one thing they are determined, upon is that strict prosecutions uw to follow any attempt to enter a train in motion. The general impression is that the Railway department has been hardly dealt with.