FALL FROM A TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13708, 26 March 1908, Page 8

FALL FROM A TRAIN.

THE AVONDALE FATALITY.

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

The inquest into the circumstances attending the' death of Joseph Thomas, the youth who was killed by falling off a train at Avondale on March 4, was concluded at the Star Hotel, Newton, before the Coroner (Mr. T. Greshara) and a. jury of six yesterday morning. Mr. F. Earl, instructed by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, watched the proceedings on behalf of the railway men concerned, and Mr. A. K. Harris on behalf of the Department. Sergeant Sheehan represented the police.

Gordon Charles Wesley Butler, a cadet in the employ of the Railway Department, who fell off the train with deceased at the time of the accident, slated that he and deceased got on the train at Newmarket, taking up their quarters in the guard's van. Witness intended to get off at Kingsland, but deceased in fun stopped him, and witness went on to Avondale with the intention of returning by the motor (rain, lie was unable to recollect what occurred after the train left Mount Albert-.

To Mr. Earl: Sometimes they as cadets were allowed to take more liberties than other passengers. Sometimes witness and Thomas rode in the van. There were rules which prescribed that cadets had no business there. It was the duty of a guard when leaving a station to go right through the train and collect the tickets. He was not prepared to contradict anybody as to what happened after the train left Mount Albert, and he did not implicitly trust bis memory as to what took place between Newmarket and Mount Albert, All he was positive of was that he and the deceased were in the van.

In reply to Mr. Harris, witness said he could give no reason for travelling in the guard's van on the occasion in question. John .Atkinson, a labourer residing at Avondale, stated that he was a passenger by the train in question. He joined it at Mount Eden. He saw Butler and Thomas on the Kingsland station platform and again at Avondale. At the latter station Thomas was standing with one foot on the step of the platform of the rear carriage and one on the station platform. Butler was standing on the station platform, near the guard's van. He did not see what happened after the train moved off.

Guard Robertson, recalled, stated that he had no recollection of having seen the boys in the van after leaving Newmarket. The jury found that deceased met his death by accident, no blame being attachable* to anyone. They also brought in a rider stating that, in their opinion the curve where the accident took place was a dangerous one, and that it was advisable that the old regulation requiring guards to procure the names of witnesses when accidents , occurred should be reintroduced.