KILLED BY TRAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23103, 30 July 1938, Page 16

KILLED BY TRAIN

FALL FROM CARRIAGE WHANGAMARINO FATALITY VERDICT AT THE INQUEST [lltO.U OI K OWN (,'OK It KSI'ON DKNT J I'l.'K F, KOI lE, Friday A verdict that deceased was accidentally killed by a train was returned !1 \ (lie coroner, .Mr. ('. K. Lawrie, .1.1'., at an inquest held this morning into the death of James I'hilip .Milne, aged iiK years, of Auckland. Milne's body was found at the side of tin; Main Trunk line a mile and a-hali north of 1 lie W'hangamarino railway station on 1 lie morning ol May I'D. Mr. 11. Simnionds appeared for the Pail way Department and Mr. .Marshall White for deceased's family.

The finding of the body was described by Constable I''. T. Wakelin. of .Mercer. The only untoward feature was tlio fact that no trace had been iouiid of deceased's overcoat and suitcase, iu spite of extensive inquiries. Mr. White: If, appears that these may ha ve been si olen ? Witness: It appears so. lioberf Gibb, of Auckland, the guard 011 the express, said that 110 passenger had been reported missing to him, and during his inspections of the train he did not discover any of the platform doors open. Iu answer to .Mr. White, witness said that the doors of the carriages could lie opened by anyone. It would be easy lor anyone in the lobby to fall out if 1 lie door w as left open. Mr. White: Do yon consider that it would be in the interests of public safety to have the doors locked while the trains are in motion? Witness: It is hard to say. The Coroner: Would it have been possible for deceased to have opened the exit door in mistake for the lavatory door and stepped, out of the ca I'riage Y Witness: Yes. "It seems to be a clear case of accidental death," said the coroner. "There is no evidence to show how deceased fell out of the carriage."