RAILWAY FATALITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1909, Page 3

RAILWAY FATALITY.

MARTON RESIDENT'S DEATH. An inquest was held by Dr. M'Arthur, . S.M., at the Hospital yesterday., in connection with the death of Charles Stantiall, 55, of Marton, who died in the hospital yesterday from injuries received through being knocked down by a locomotive between Thorndon jukl Lambton stations on Thursday evening. Dr. H. Smith, medical superintendent of the hospital, said deceased died from shock due to his injuries, which were concussion of the brain and injuries to the chest. Two boys, named John Flynn and Stanley Robinson, who were on the 6.15 p.m. train from Wellington, said they .*aw ;v man in a white overcoat coming from Thorndon station towards Lambton station. Then he appeared to fall against the railway carriage of tho train on which they were. This was near Davis-street crossing. Edward_ James S^leman, driver of the train which struck deceased, stated in his evidence that when his mate said the train had passed someone on the line the train was stopped, and witness went b^,ck. He saw the deceased surrounded oy a few people on the side of the line. The man was taken away by some shunters, and witness continued his journey. He saw lathing on tho line when the train left Lambton for Lower Hutt. His mate caw the man There was another train close by the spot where the man was picked up. Ernest Joseph Edlin, fireman with the last witness, gave corroborative evidence. Guard Frederick Alfred Mildenhall' fave evidence of the finding of the ody. Evidence given by fc Gadsby was to the effect that deceased was a fellow passenger of his on the train from Morton. He was perfectly sober at the time they parted at Thorndon station. The only drink he had was a shandygaff with witness. Gadsby crossed the lino with a man who was carrying a bale of hay, and the hay was knocked off the man's shoulder by a locomotive. Deceased followed witness across the lines, but he had no occasion to do so. Both witness and deceased intended staying at the Hotel Cecil. Tjhe coroner said there was no doubt whatever that tho deceased walked into the train. There was also no doubt that deceased was sober. It seemed likely, said the coroner, that as Gadsby was going to the hotel the deceased followed him. The three men were walking acioss tho line, notwithstanding they were warned. The coroner found that deceased came by his death by coming in contact with a train which was coming in. the opposite direction. No blame was attachable to the engine driver or fireman.