A RAILWAY FATALITY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14645, 21 April 1913, Page 10

A RAILWAY FATALITY.

SHUNTER RUN OVER. On Saturday afternoon, whilst engaged in shunting operations at Mina station, John Popplewell, a shunter, between 17 and 17.J years of age, was knocked down by a truck which passed over his left leg and left arm, which were almost severed from his body. He was brought to town, and was taken to the Hospital, wheio he died the same evening. He was a single man, and his relatives reside in Christchurch. An inquest into tho circumstances of his* death was opened at the Hospital yesterday afternoon before Mr H. VV. Bishop, District Coroner. Mr J. Gray . represented tho Railway Department, and Mr Geo. Harper appeared for the relatives of the deceased. Eric Arthur Widdowson, junior house 1 surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, stated that deceased was admitted at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday. He was in a collapsed state. Soon after admission he became unconscious and remained so till ho died at 9.15 p.m. the samo day. The cause of death was shock due to the injuries. Mr Harper: Do you know how ho was brought in in the ambulance? Witness: I could not say; 1 only saw him in the ward. Daniel Hartnett. stock auctioneer for the National Mortgage Company, stated that tho deceased was his nephew. He had been about five months in the railway service. Tn intimating his' intention to adjourn the enquiry, the coroner impressed on Mr Gray the necessity for bringing witnesses to show that it was deceased's duty to do shunting. That would have to be enquired into very closely. He added that Mr Gray would understand that an attitude adverse to the Railway Department would be taken up. The more fact that Mr Harper was engaged showed that deceased's relatives were not satisfied. The inouest was adjourned till 2.30 P.m. on Wednesday, at the S.M. Courthouse.