A SHUNTER’S DEATH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8784, 14 July 1914, Page 8

A SHUNTER’S DEATH

NOBODY TO BLAME. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon by 3lr D. G. A. Cooper, S.H., on the body of John Dugdale. a railway shunter, who was killed while at work at Thorndon soon after X o’clock last Saturday morning. -Mr A. Duncan appeared for the Railway Department and Mr O’Leary for the widow of the deceased. Dr Henry described the injuries suffered by Dugdale, and said that death was primarily due to fracture of the spine. Arthur Bickel, living at 11, Mulgrave street, shunter in the employ of the Railway Department, said he was working with deceased at shunting operations on Saturday morning. They started work at 6.20 p.m. on Friday. Ho had seen deceased alive almost immediately before the accident. Deceased had evidently tried to get on to tho hand-brake of the waggon. The next witness saw’ of him was under the wheels. He did not see him fa!!, but heard two distinct bumps. The train was at once stopped, and a red light was shown. He found deceased lying across the lino, and seemingly dead. The police arrived shortly after and took charge of the body. Deceased was absolutely sober at the time of the accident; there was no question about that. Tho reason why shunters jumped on to tho hand-brake w'as to bo carried along and to be ready to apply the brake when required. Witness was riding on a. foot-plate of a waggon m front of the one on which the accident occurred. There seemed to be plenty of light in that portion of the yard. Joseph Justin Bergin, the fireman of the engine pushing the train on which the accident occurred, said that the train was travelling' about throe miles per hour. . . Thomas Henry Kirby, engine-driver of the train, gave corroborative evidence. ’ The verdict was that deceased accidentally met his death through being run over by a railway truck, no blame being attachable to anyone.