GIRL’S DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1927, Page 8

GIRL’S DEATH

REMARKABLE INQUEST 'STORY. HULL, June 1-1. Remarkable evidence was given by James William Kay, a railway fireman, at the inquest held at Hessle, Hull, today. upon Ethel Desforge, the 18-year-old girl who was found dead on the railway by the side of Andrew Neilson, a married man, who was injured, but is recovering. Key stated lie was the fireman of a train from Normanton to Hull, and on Thursday last, about four o’clock in the morning, they were approaching the signal cabin near Hessle at a speed of 25 to 30 miles an hour when lie saw a man and a woman in front walking in the six-foot way towards Hull. They had their backs to the engine. which was about a hundred yards away. “We sounded the whistle,” Kay continued, “but they kept, on walking and did not. turn round. When the engine got nearer, however, they both turned round, looked at it, and then threw themselves down on the line in front of the train. They put themselves on the same rail, the near-side down rail.”

The train was stopped and Kay went back along the line to where the bodies were lying. The girl was dead, but Neilson was conscious and told him his name. The witness at once recognised him, Neilson being a railway fireman. In answer to jurors, Kay stated he saw no struggle between Neilson and the girl. They appeared to lie down simultaneously and voluntarily. Christopher Desforge, the father of the girl, stated she did not return home on Tuesday, June 7, and when he went to the top of the street to look for her he met Mrs Neilson, who said her husband was also absent from home. Desforge said he was unaware of any friedship between his daughter and Neilson, who was his next door neighbour. Kay, recalled, estimated that the train’ was only 25 to 30 yards away when Neilson and the girl placed themselves on the rail. But for the cowcatcher, he added, they would have been decapitated. The inquest was adjourned until Tuesday next, when Neilson may be able to attend.