TAMPERED WITH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 190, 14 August 1939, Page 7

TAMPERED WITH.

RAILWAY TRACKS.

Jury's' Finding On Cause Of Derailment.

MELBOURNE PASSENGERS^

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 1.30 p.m.)

M-:\V YORK, August 13

ft is now reported that .19 passonjT(Ts were killed and nearly (id, in<•luc 11 t 1 two I ruin Melbourne, injured I wreck of the City of San Frail-

Southern Pacific Railway officials on the coroner's jury found that the tracks been tampered with, causing the derailment.

I lie Melbourne passengers were listed :' s \ 1 . 1 ' - M '*- I- V. Tonilin. Mrs suffered back and leg injuries. •Mr. I<> 1111 ill was bruised.

Hi" din-ion superintendent said that tile wreck was "clearly a case of sabo'""ll murderous intent.'' He said that one :sot't length of rail had heen nio\ed tour inches inward, and the rail lie plates iil;i in spiked to the ties in tin- new position.

I lie power units of (i,,. 1.000.000d"llar. 17-car train liad sufficient "'omentum <" cross the broken track, and a small bridge just ahead. The car was derailed when it struck the same spot and pulled the succeeding coaches with it. when it nlungecl from the track.

Some cars struck the steel framework "t a bridge, demolishing: it and toppling- -•> teet into the river.

I lie last previous train passed four hours bclore the wreck.