CASUALTIES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17750, 30 April 1923, Page 6

CASUALTIES.

KILLED ON CROSSING. The inquest concerning the death of Thomas 'William Paul, aged 74 years, who died from injuries received by being knocked over by a special train conveying the General Manager to the South on April 17th, Avas held before tho District Coroner, Mr H. Y. Widdowson, on Saturday morning. Deceased, who was partially blind o.nd deaf, walked on to the Antigua street cross- ! ing in spite; of the warnings of the sig- | nalman on duty at the time. The d'eI ceased was a gardener, and ho resided j at Sydney street, tSpreydon. j Sergeant Almond conducted the proceedings, and Mr A. 0. Truman, District Traffic Inspector, appeared for the Railway Department. 'William l'opkin, dairyman ? said he saw the old man on the east side of the road near the fence." "I thought he was going to ?top, the same an 1 did," said the witness, "but he still came or.. The flagman saw that he was in danger, and he rushed forward to try to save him. At that time the train was coming on to the crossing. Tho flagman was too late, but he went so far I thought ho was going to be caught in the train himself. The train pulled up very suddenly, The old man was then two yards from the, line near the tramlines. I heard the engine whistle, and tho signalman was waving his flag before the accident." Kenneth Finlayson, indent agent, said he passed an old man about 50ydsfrom the lino.' He had his head down, and did not seem to take notice where he was going. When witness had crossed the line he looked back, and saw the signalman in the middle of the road, shouting to the old man. The train was coming on to the crossing. "There was no negligence on the part of any railway official," said witness; "they did their very best to 9ave him." Tho Coroner remarked that deceased had been an unfortunate old man, for his vision was partially obscured by a cataract, and he was stone deaf. John Mullaney, the said that after putting all the signals against traffic, he noticed the old man. Something seemed to tell him that the old man was not safe, so witness went to the window of his box, and shouted "Stop, stop!" Witness went after the man. and touched him on the shoulder. He seemed to look up sideways, but he walked on and the cylinder of the engine struck him, throwing him nine yards across the road. If he had not hesitated, he would have been right in the middle of the line. The train pulled up immediately tit was over the crossing. John Thomas Cox, the crossingkeeper, also stated that he had shouted at the old man ta stop, but he took no notice. The signalman could not get a grip, of the old man's shoulder before the accident happened. Muschamp Osbert, fireman, on the train, also gave evidence. , The Coroner said that tho old man had been stone deaf for nearly 50 years, and his sight was very bad. He evidently did not see the signals, or hear the shouting. "The old man should not have been allowed to go about as ho did," he said. ta The nephew acknowledged that he should have been in a. home," The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the mtdical evidence, that deceased died from shock, following on the injuries he received and the amputation of the aim which was rendered necessary by the injuries. No blame was attachable to any railway official. The three men who were injured in the collision between a taxi-cab and tramcar in Papanui road on Friday night are reported to be making good progress at the Christchurch Hospital. They are all out of ■■ danger. 'Their names are Francis McTigue, taxi-driver, of Antigua street, J. Garrett, of tfalcairn; and William Dermott. Pi. Farrell, a boy aged 13 years,, residing 'at 54 Victoria street, was riding a push bicycle along Park terrace yesterday when he fell off and received injuries to the groin. He was admitted „to the Christchurch Hospital, and last night his condition was reported to be satisfactory. , ' S. Pitt, residing at 136 Stanford street, fractured his leg while playing football for the Albion Club at the Show Grounds on Saturdav afternoon. He was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital, r where he .is making good progress. ' ' & .

(press association telegrams.) AUCKLASJ>, April 28. An elderly married ' woman, \Mary Stanley, was knocked down by a tramcar at Epsom., The swift application of the brakes saved her life. She was! removed to the hospital in a semi-con-scious condition and her case is still serious.WAIPUKURAU, April 28. A boy named Samuel Haldane, aged eighteen, a visitor from Hastings, was drowned in the Waipukurau lake yesterday. He went out alone in the morning in a boat, to make preparations for duck shooting, and has not since been seen.