THE EUSTON DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18730, 9 June 1924, Page 7

THE EUSTON DISASTER.

CONCLUSION OF INQUEST.

SIGNALMAN EXONERATED. Australian, and. N.Z. Cable • Association. (Heed. 6.5 p.m.) • LONDON, June 7. At the inquest concerning the deaths of the victims of the Euston railway disaster. a verdict of accidental death was mturned. The signalman, Chambers, wept while giving evidence. He said he made a mistake with the lever, but believed the train was on another line. The coroner said he was convinced that Chambers made an honest mistake, and that that there was no culpable neglect, on his part. :

A special train into the rear of which an elecr.ric train crashed just outside Euston terminus, London, on April 26, was crowded with excursionists from Coventry, who were bound for Wembley to witness the Association football cup final. The special had. stopped in a tunnel. The majority of the passengers \u;ro standing up getting their wraps and overcoats when the electric train crashed into the rear of their train, where most of the casualties occurred. The rescue work was carried out in the semi-darkness of the itunnel. Five deaths resulted. The signalman, Chambers, giving evidence at the inquest, admitted that he forgetfully passed the electric train on to the line on which the express train was standing. His frank avowal evoked a tribute from' the coroner. Chambers stated that when he accepted the electrical train on the slow line he was fully confident that the express was on the fast line. He Jealised his mistake only when the collision occurred. He declared he had no worry which would .make him forget. He could only explain the accident as a peculiar misconception. He did not wish to throw responsibility or blame on anybody else. He expressed deep sorrow at ha-, .'ing bsen the cause of the disaster..