CASUALTIES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16516, 7 May 1919, Page 8

CASUALTIES.

CHERTSEY RAILWAY FATALITY.

The adjourned inquiry into the death of Henry Thompson, who was killed by being run over by a train near Chertsey, on the evening of April 30th, was held before Mr. James Cow, District Coroner, at the. Ashburton Courthouse, yesterday. R. Kerr; storekeeper, Ashburton, identified the body as that of Heriiy Thompson, a widower, aged 51 yoars. Alexander Gordon, of Rakaia, said that he had seen Thompson standing outside tho Rakaia Hotel, at about 5.30 on the evening of the accident. Ho was quite sure Thompson was not under the influence of liquor. T. S. Paterson, engine-driver, gave evidence to having passed through Chertsey with his train at 6.20 p.m., at tho rate of 35 miles an hour. When about 300 yards north of Chertsey he heard a slight rustling of the ballast, but did not feel anything that would lead him to believe that the engine had passed over any object. George Lythjee, railway surfaceman, and Constable McLennan, also gave evidence. A verdict was returned that Henry Thompson was killed by being run over by the express train on the evening of Wednesday, April 30tK, between Chertsey and Rakaia, but there was no evidence to show how he came to be on or Jjear the line. (press association temegham.) AUCKLAND, May 6. At the inquest regarding the death of George McKent, who was found dead at Waitakere on Monday with a gunshot wound in his head, evidence was given that deceased suffered from a severe attack of influenza about Christmas time, and never recovered thoroughly. A verdict was returned that deceased died as the result of a gunshot wound in the head, self-inflicted while in a state of mental depression.