THE ACCIDENT AT HAMILTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13370, 27 December 1906, Page 5

THE ACCIDENT AT HAMILTON.

THE INQUEST.

A DANGEROUS PRACTICE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

... Hamilton, Wednesday. The inquest on the remains of Mr. H. G. I. Crombie, who was killed at the railway station on Saturday, was continued on Monday. *

J. A. Sergeant, driver of the' train, said that he did not exceed the usual speed in coming into the station. He could not have done so, owing to a heavy train and a slight grade. Mr. Crombie was standing perfectly still with the tablet held above his head.. He found the tablet in the cab of the engine. When taking the tablet he felt a jerk on his arm, and at the same time heard a woman scream. He never felt such a jerk on the tablet before. The train was travelling at 12 miles an hour.

In reply to Mr. Crombie (father of deceased), witness said lie did consider it dangerous to exchange tablets whilst travelling at this speed. It would be safer if trains entered tablet stations at six miles an hour. He could not say how Mr v Crombie's tablet got into the cab.

In reply to a juryman, witness said it was not absolutely compulsory to change tablets whilst the trains were in motion, but it was usual. It was an unwritten law. There was no necessity to do this at such, stations as Hamilton. ■*'"

Joseph Kirkpatrick, plumber, of Hamilton, said he saw deceased going towards the train. He was walking at a good pace, and stopped just when he got opposite to the engine. After the train had travelled a few yards he was drawn down between the platform and the train. The only tablet witness saw was that received from the driver. He could not say whether the tablet swung him round.

Questioned by Mr. Horsnell, stationmaster, witness said he thought it possible that deceased put his arm through both tablets.

J. M. Pawle, aged 16, said that the train was near the station when Mr. Crombie came out of the office. He saw the driver hang out of the cab, and Mr. Crombie's arm was through both tablets, and he overbalanced himself. In trying to steady himself he put his hand against the moving train. Deceased had very little time- between coming out of the office and the arrival of the train. He was just moving his hand to his head when itcame abreast of him. Mr. Horsnell. stationmaster, said that tlie tablet would have been received by Mr. Crombie a-quarter of an hour before the train came in. In reply to the father of the deceased, witness said he.regretted to state that the staff at the station was not sufficient to cope with the work. There were plenty of them, but they were wanting in experience. The jury delivered the following verdict:—"That Henry Gordon Inries Crombie met his death by falling under a train at the Hamilton railway station, when exchanging tablets, and that there is no blame to either deceased or the driver of the train." They added the following rider: "That the attention of the Minister for Railways be drawn to the exceedingly dangerous way in which the tablet system t? worked on tho Auckland railways, and that he be requested to cause immediate inquiry to be made, eo that steps may be taken to minimise the risk to life and limb-" The Coroner said lie quite agreed with the verdict and rider. There were so many accidents that it was quite time something was done, and lie would bring the matter under the notice of the authorities.

Before separating the jury passed a vote of sympathy with Mr. Cioiabie, sen,.;, and his family^ •'•'■-'