HAMILTON.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3552, 15 May 1880, Page 2

HAMILTON.

Friday. INQUBST ON EDWARD WALSH.

An inquest is being held at James' Railway Hotel before Dr Beale, coroner, on the body of Edward Walsh who died yesterday from injuries received on the railway. There is to be r a largely attended funeral at Hamilton to-morrow. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved. Mr Thomas Grorly was foreman. Guard Cox stated that the deceased got into the guard's van at Huntly, and while fixing a lamp in ■ the van he heard a noise, he immediately missed the deceased, and tried to open communication with the^ engine driver by putting 'the break on and off, but failed, and had to wait until the arrival of the train at- Taupiri, where a trolly was sent down the line to look for him.

Dr Sandes, Mr Call well, uncle of the deceased, and Mr K. H. Sandes, were also examined. Mr Gall well said* that the deceased -had told him several times before he died that the accident was entirely his own fault, if anyone was to blame, as he had got into the guard's van while the train was in motion, so that the guavd could not turn him out. The coroner and several jurymen commented upon the absence of telegraphic communication between the station on the line and between the guard and enginedriver, either, of which might have been the means of saving Walsh's life. y

Mr Walsh had been married on Sunday last, and had gone down as far as Mercer with his wife, who was going to Auckland. When returning he met with the accident which resulted in his death. The jury returned a verdict of" accidental death."

- The jury added a rider to the verdict:— That the Government be advised to inaugurate the system of communication between the guard and the engine-driver, and they also recommend that all the stations should be in telegraphic com* munication.