RAILWAY FATALITY

Evening Star, Issue 21719, 14 May 1934, Page 11

RAILWAY FATALITY

INQUEST OH SEACLIFF VICTIM The inquest was . concluded in the courthouse this, morning on Daniel O’Connell, the young Seacliff farmer, who died as the'result of injuries received when he was, struck by a train near Seacliff. . . Mr H. W.'Bundle, S-M-, sat as coroner. Sergeant Vaughan conducted' the inquiry for the police, and Mr'E.-.F. Kavanagh represented the Railway Department. Evidence regarding the deceased s movements on the night of March 31 was given by T. Te Whao Lloyd, a Seacliff dairy farmer, who said that deceased visited his house at about 11.30 and remained there for about an hour. When he arrived at- witness’s place deceased had had ' some liquor, but was quite sober. Witness had some visitors, and a bottle of draught beer which deceased brought with him was consumed by four of them, including the deceased. They all had one small drink only. There was ho other liquor consumed. Deceased’s easiest way home was along the railway line. He was in his usual, health and spirits when he left witness’s house. Constable Hayward gave evidence regarding investigations made at the scene of the accident. Michael John Riordon, uncle of the deceased, said that the deceased from boyhood had been a very hard worker. He had a restless energy, and when he went to sleep he really collapsed, so that it was almost impossible to wake him for hours afterwards. Witness gave further evidence of deceaseds tendency to fall into a very deep sleep when tired, and said that on the morning of the accident he had been up at 5 o’clock to milk, and, as a brother was away, he had extra work to do. He had had no rest whatever on the farm that day. , . „ After referring to the deceaseds tendency to fall asleep readily when tired the Coroner said there seemed to be no doubt that the deceased had gone to sleep near the track. Nothing could have been done by the engine driver or anyone else to save hini. The verdict would be that deceased died as the result of a 'fractured skull, caused through his being accidentally struck by a train on the main north line near Seacliff. No possible blame could be attached to the driver of the train, and all possible steps had been' taken m regard to the removal and treatment of the deceased.