The Marton Fatality.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8037, 13 March 1905, Page 5

The Marton Fatality.

(Per Presg Association),

MARION, T.'iis clay

An inquest was held at Marton on Saturday touching the death of the little girl Milverton, of Palmerston, killed at the Marton railway station on Saturday morning. The evidence showed that the carriage which the guardian was taking the child into was locked. Whilst endeavouring to open the door the train jolted and the child fell, being crushed between the step of a carriage and the platform. The train was not in its proper place for starting and the passengers were not allowed to board the tram until drawn up in its usual place. After a lengthy deliberation the jury returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed, no blame being attachable to the railway officials. A rider was added recommending. the railway authorities to have the doors of carriages unlocked previous to being drawn to the platform.

[In connection with the above fatality, we are given to understand that, at the request of Mr Downey, the grandfather of the deceased, the Coroner consented to hold the inquest two hours earlier than he originally intended. This was done to enable Mr and Mrs Downey to return to their home in Palinerston the same evening. Had the inquest been held at the later hour at first decided on they would have had to remain in Marton over-night, which Mr Downey desired to avoid, as Mrs Downey was suffering greatly, from nervous prostration as the result of the sad fatality.]