GIRL THROWS HERSELF UNDER TRAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 66, 17 March 1908, Page 5

GIRL THROWS HERSELF UNDER TRAIN.

A most sensational scjg},, involving the self-destruction of a girl, was wit" nessed at North Fitzroy (Vie.) Railway I Station. * I A girl, well dressed, of quiet manners, and.refined appearance, walked on to the ' station, and stood on the edge of the j platform, looking down on the line. A little later, as the 7.43 train ran in, two ! girls saw the unknown girl jump down ■ as the engine approached, and deliberate-1 ly place her head on the outer rail, at | '. the same time extending her arms at I full length. The desperate action was j' done quietly, and without any excitement on the girl's part; but the onlook-I-ers, who were frantic with excitement,! ' screamed in horror. | ; The stationmaster and 1 others ran on Ito the platform, ' but it was too late. I i The ponderous engine had crushed the, : poor girl's head to pulp, and one arm, j i which with convulsive movement was I thrown across the line, was severed near [ the elbow. The unfortunate girl was j Rosanna Ballantyne, 19, a domestic ser-1 vant. As the girl was subject to epileptic ' fits, the Coroner brought in a verdict of accidental death. He considered she " might have been seized with a fit just!' before she fell under the train. TAME MAGPIE ATTACKS BOY. i W. Dowdy, aged 12 years, residing at Rainbow (Vie), was attacked by a tame magpie. The bird flew upon his face and ' pecked the pupil of the right eye. An operation is to be performed, with a view to preserving the sight.