ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 283, 30 November 1938, Page 13

ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

OTAHUHU RAIL FATALITY. MA\ T KNOCKED DOWN BY TRAIN. Before the district coroner, Mr. J. V. Laww, an inquest into the death of Charles Ernest Thorns, a labourer employed at the railway "workshops, who was knocked down by a passenger train at 6.45 on the morning of November 11 and killed was held at Otahnhu. Mr. Meredith represented the Railways Department and Mr. R. W. F. Wood the relatives of deceased. Arthur Henry Burton, fireman of a shunting train, said his train was proceeding northward when he saw two men standing on the side of the track near the Kaka Street overbridge. A southbound passenger train was passing at the time and he heard the whistle blown. Charles Henry Coggins, fireman on the passenger train, said he saw two men step from the back of the shunting train and walk towards the passenger train. This train did not stop at Otahuhu. It was stated that the man who was supposed to have been with deceased, when interviewed by Constable Hanna, denied having been with him, stating that he was walking ahead of Thorns. He said he did not see Thorns hit by the train. A verdict of accidental death was returned, due to injuries received when deceased was knocked down by a passenger train.