THE DEATH OF THE BOY MURPHY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9189, 19 October 1888, Page 6

THE DEATH OF THE BOY MURPHY.

■■•"' ! ♦ ". CORONER'S INQUEST. 'A ■ coroner's inquest on ' the body of ; the boy Augustine Murphy, who was killed on the railway line at Mount Eden on Wednesday evening, was held at the Queen's Head Hotel, corner of Syraonds street and Khyber Pass Road, yesterday afternoon. Dr. Philson was the coroner, and ,Mr. S. Reid was foreman of the jury. Sergeant Gamble and Constable Dewes represented the police, whilst Mr. G. S. Reston,. governor of the gaol, was also present. ■ »'• Dr. G. T. Girdler deposed to being called on Wednesday evening, about six o'clock, ! to visit deceased. When he arrived at the ! house of the parents, in Nugent street, he ' found that the child was dead. The right side of the head was crushed ; in, the right arm torn away; arid hanging by a piece, of skin, the bones, arteries, etc.; having been crushed.- - ~'..-■ { : Cornelius Murphy, -9£ years, 'brother of the deceased, deposed that his little brother asked witness to give him a ride in a railway truck, which ; was : w near where the Mount Eden pond was formerly situated. Witness agreed to do so, and the two boys ' went together to the truck, where they saw other boys, who were running the truck up and down the line. Witness here said that the bread had been pulled up by- three of the boys, in order., that the • truck might run freely. There were four boys seated in the truck, and witness put his brother in, arid assisted in pushing. Another truck .. was upon the line, and it ran down, the • brake having been lifted, and knocked i against the -one,; in which the little boys ;.; were. The' deceased was atahdingup, and i was thrown out on to the line. He rolled [ over, and the wheel of the truck crushed i his head: and arm, stopping on his head, i He never cried out, but witness shouted, I My brother's killed !','"Three boys, Eddy i Long, Walker, and Bowden, ran up and pushed the truck back, and the little boy was then carried home. * William Walker,-a- lad of 15, one 'of l those who took the body of deceased to his, parents' residence; James R. Henderson; a i warder jat H.M. Gaol, and; J. Oldham, s traffic inspector, Railway Department, also * gave evidence. ' ' ' - A verdict of "Accidental Death" wai •'.. returned, the jury adding a rider censuring ' the railway authorities for not having pros' peily secured the trucks when not in use. *