KILLED BY TRAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1934, Page 10

KILLED BY TRAIN

MAN STRUCK ON BRIDGE

BODY FOUND UNDERNEATH

(By Telesviipli—l*r«»s Association.).

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

A verdict that the deceased was accidentally lulled on the bridge over tho Tokomaru Stream through being struck by the engine of an excursion train on Sunday morning was returned at an inquest regarding the death, of Joseph Henry Liggins, aged 55, farmer, of Tokomaru. . . '

The Coroner added that no blame was attachable to the railway ofiicials.

Edwin ' Andrews, enginedriver, said that when approaching the bridge he saw a man come up the embankment about ten yardsin front of the engine. He to cross the line. Ho looked towards the engine and witness presumed that he saw it. ' Witness sounded a warning whistle but the man proceeded to cross the lino at a right angle: to the: engine. Witness then lost sight of him. '■.*'.'

After crossing tho bridge witness expected to seethe man, who was not then on the bridge. Witness stopped the train and examined tho engine thoroughly^ but found no marks to indicate, that the man had been struck. Thinking -everything was all right he proceeded on tho journey, being satisfied that the man had got clear.

Frederick Bicknell, guard, said that he walked back along tho lino and saw nothing to suggest any trouble.

A son of the deceased gave evidence of the finding of his fathers-body on tho bank of. the stream under the bridge. ; Constablo B*)ackic described the deceased's injuries and marks on the bridge. • Ho said that evidently the deceased had been struck by £he train, thrown against the side of the bridge, and then fallen about 25 feet to the bed of the stream. : .