TWO INQUESTS

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1942, Page 3

TWO INQUESTS

RAILWAY INSPECTOR STRUCK

BY TRAIN.

. The inquest into the death of Henry Wright Buckingham, Inspector of the Permanent Wav at Greymouth, who was struck by a. train at the entrance to the Greymouth railway yard on October 23, ’ was concluded yesterday afternoon before the Coroner, Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M. Senior Sergeant G. F. Bonisch conducted the inquest, and Mr G. D. Smart, Stationmaster at Greymouth, appeared on behalf of the Railway Department. The verdict was that deceased died of severe lacerations of the brain, as a result of a depressed compound comminuted fracture of fthe skull, caused when deceased was knocked down by a railway engine. Allan Marshall, engine driver said that on October 23 he was driving the train from Rewanui, due at Greymouth at 5.11 p.m. The train was running on time. They had crossed the Cobden bridgp arid were entering the railway yard when he saw a man walking towards the signal box. When witness first saw him he would be about forty or fifty yards away, with his back to witness, and clear of the track. Witness blew the whistle and made an application thp brake. When witness last saw him he was clear of the track. Witness was on the left hand side of the engine, and lost sight of him when the train got clqs_e. The fireman called out to look but, and just afterwards informed him that he had struck a man. Witness ran the train into the station, and went back to the man, who had a wound in the back of the head. The train was travelling at about ten miles an hour. Witness had been an engine driver for nineteen years. The weather, was boisterous, and it was raining. There was a train leaving Greymouth for Otira, and the man’s attention may have been taken up by it. William Dawson, fireman on the train, gave corroborative evidence. He said that Buckingham had taken no notice wnen the whistle was sounded. He walked between the Rewanui line and the dead end line along the river bank where the sheen trucks are washed out. When the engine was twenty feet away, he walked to the track on which the train was running. He was walking four inches from the rail. Witness called “look out,” and the driver applied the brakes. The engine struck Buckingham on the back, knocking him forwards and 1 slightly sideways. He was then struck bv the step to the cab which rolled him clear. Buckingham had apparently no knowledge that the train was anuroaching-. The. driver took all precautions. If Buckingham had continued to walk on his original course there would have been no accident. He gave no indication of his intention till he walked on to the line. Thp engine was running bunker first, and there was a clear view from the cab.

Stephen Alderson, signalman, said that he saw Buckingham and he took no notice when the whistle blew. Lois Norman Lower, railway works foreman, said that deceased was supplied with a working schedule of the departure and arrival of trains. Witness saw hiw half an hour before, and he had not mentioned being unwell or perturbed. Constable G. S. Murray erye evidence of being called to the scene of the accident. Dr. J. F. C. Moore attended the injured man, and witness accompanied him to the hospital. He was suffering from - severe injuries to the head.-

Dr. D. A. Arnott, surgeon at the Grey River Hospital gave medical evidence on the injuries causing deceased’s death. CHILD’S FATAL FALL FROM CART. An inquest into the death of Francis Wilson Sweetman, aged four years and seven months, of Blaketown, who died at the Grey River Hospital on November 13, was also concluded before Mr Chisholm, Coroner. The verdict was that the deceased died from cerebral laceration, due to head injuries and fracture of the skull caused bv an accident, when playing with a hand-cart. Senior Sergeant Bonisch conducted the inquest for*, the police. John Joffre Walton, aged 10, said that on November 12 he was playing with a hand-cart on Packer’s The deceased and witness’s sister aged six were in the cart. He pushed the cart off the footpath on to the roadway, which was down an incline. He went to turn the cart to the leit and the right handle slipped out of his hand and the cart suddenly swung to the left and turned over on its right side. His sister and the accused were 'thrown' out on the roadway. The side of the cart fell on them. He nulled the cart off. Deceased was bleeding from his ear and face. Mr Furness then_ came and gave assistance. George Samuel Furness, of BlaKetown gave evidence. of having seen the accident. Pie went to the rescue and carried the injured, bov to nis home. . r < Medical evidence was given by ur. D. A. Arnott, surgeon at the Grey River Hospital. ~ Constable J. B. Jones gave evid--1 ence of having visited the scene or the accident. The drive, from the footpath to the roadway was thirty feet long, and the roadway was three feet six inches below the tootpath. The cart was fitted with 2b X J motor cycle wheels and was of tne type used by adults’ to cart firewood, etc. -