RAILWAY FATALITY

Evening Star, Issue 19275, 14 June 1926, Page 5

RAILWAY FATALITY

ATTEMPTED IQ BOARD TRAIN The adjourned inquest into the circumstances of the death of John Thomas Barnes, a laborer, living at Green Island, was held to-day before Mr J. 11. Bartholomew, H.M. From the evidence it appeared a.s if the deceased attempted to board the 7.17 Mosgiel train on May 28 at the hack of the Early Settlers’ Hall, and that he missed his footing, though no one had actually witnessed the accident. Serpeanfc Dunlop conducted tho proceedings on behalf of the police, and Mr T. Cookburn represented tho Baihvny Department. Edward Gray Dobson, a. railway guard, said that he was on the 7.17 Mosgiel train on, May 28. Prior to tho train leaving, the platform was clear. Ho did not feel .any bump as the train left. It actually loft a minute later than its scheduled time in order to allow a woman passenger to get on. Witness had a clear view of tho platform, but if the deceased hoarded tho train on the off side lie would not have noticed him.

Catherine Wright, married, residing at Green Island, said she had known deceased for seven years. She saw deceased on the night of the fatality shortly after 7 o’clock in George street. There appeared to ho nothing unusual about him.

Walter Mackie, railway enginedriver, said that ho was shunting in the yard on the night of May 2d. He saw a dark object near iho 7.17 Mosgiel train as it pulled out. and he went over pnd found a man lying on the track. His head was close to the rails, and his left arm was badly crushed. There were papers and a bottle lie side deceased.

Constable Lough said that lie found deceased lying under the overhead bridge at the back of the Karly Settlers’ Hall. "Deceased was unconscious. He had injuries to bis scaln. a crushed left arm, and a lacerated left leg. Barnes was then alive. A railway employee was holding a bottle, and there were the remains of another one on the line. There was no suggestion that deceased was intoxicated.

Sergeant Dunlop said that as far as could, ho ascertained no person had actually witnessed the accident. Ho thought it was reasonable to surmise that deceased had tried to hoard the train and missed his footing. The Coroner said that there was an obvious hint from the evidence that the deceased tried to hoard the train. Ho must have fallen and met with the injuries. • He returned a verdict to the effect that death was duo to injuries accidentally caused by being crushed by a train on May 28 last.