FALL FROM TRAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 10

FALL FROM TRAIN.

MARRIED woman killed. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. (By Telegraph —Own Correspondent.) PUKEKOHE, this day. Following the death of a well-known resident of Pukekolie, Mrs Charlotte Sutton Mee, aged 02, when she fell from a moving train at the Pukekolie railway station on the evening of May 22, an inquest was held at Pukekolie to-day before the district coroner, Mr. L. lv. Lawrie, J.P. . .. Michael Cyril Duffy, a farmer, said that from about Papakura station onwards Mrs. Mee had appeared to be uneasy and continually looked out of the window to see where the train was, while on one occasion he heard her ask another passenger, "Where are we now?" She had gathered her parcels from the rack and placed them on the seat beside her. When the train was entering the Pukekolie station she had picked up her parcels and a suitcase and had gone to the door, v She was endeavouring to" get through with the load when witness went to her assistance. Witness told her not to be in a hurry as there was plenty of time. Witness took her suitcase and returned to his seat to get his own parcels, Mrs. Mee then being by the carriage door. He looked back and saw her moVe out of the carriage, but by the time lie reached the door deceased was stepping from the moving train. She fell but momentarilj 7 hung to tne gate support before going tinder the train. The train pulled up in the usual manner, there being no bumping or jerking. The Pukekohe stjition was well lit at the time, but witness was tillable to say whether the carriage platform gates had been open or closed when Mrs. Mee went out of the door.

I James Cyril Wilson, railway clerk, said that he was in charge of the Pukekolie station when the train arrived. The train made a good stop and the station platform was fully lighted. Upon receiving information that a .passenger had fallen under the train h«» discovered Mrs. Mee under the wheels of a carriage, apparently dead. Witiiess summoned a doctor and immediate steps were taken to have the body removed. It was found necessary to lift the carriage to enable this to be done. A relay gang was summoned and the body was removed after about one hour's work. The guard on the train, Thomas Clarence Sloan, said that he believed deceased was a woman who spoke to him before the train reached Paerata. As far as he knew all the carriage gates were closed when the train arrived at Pukekolie. The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attach, able to the Railway Department. He also congratulated the clerk in charge, Mr. Wilson, for his prompt action in dbtaining a doctor and having the carriage jacked up to allow the removal of the body.