KILLED WHILE CROSSING A RAILWAY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10766, 15 May 1911, Page 1

KILLED WHILE CROSSING A RAILWAY.

(Per Press Association.) . . Chtistchurcl:,.May 14. . John liill, aged 62, .who" resided with his sou at Sbckbuiii, and who was admitted to the hospital at 'S.3O last night, suffering;.from a severe, wound in the forehead, died in the institution early, thjs morning.. He Was found at Sackbu'rri"'.fajbjjaj'; station in: a dazed apparently*ha'd'.:a fall, but how thef-accictent ocCttrred it is.not afc present'■"■■kntfCvn - ->: It- is supposed 'that iii endeavoring So escape iron*, a' train he was- eithefTStrpcK by- the or stumbled and hit his:'li : oad;: : He'had an absceg§.o'n the forehead,' a-hd as a result of the" blow he. received-this commenced to bleed -profiJsely: ■; No: one appears to have witnessed the: accident. •':■".•; ."' <At the.inquest ;tlic evidence."of Henry Barker, e'n'gine'rd.rivcr, was to the'effect that: when";'the traiii frO'm .Ashbjirton, which he 'wasVdrivinjjj andl-which arrivedat Christfihurch at 6:4-5 qtf Friday night,.'was approaching Sqckburh witness"; deceased immediately in front o'f'the :fcow-catcher;. which struck him. M the saitrie- time Hill KM- jtist' steppedoff Jirie, faiid the cpwrcatcher" struck him'Vsideways; clear "of'the line and, on to the platform/' A flask of whisky was found on., him. - ' The - hospital. doctor stated that Hill sinelt slightly ofalcohol vi'hen but was - able to spfeali intelligently. There V were no signs; of Vfracture- \yheii 'he was ■examined, but; a :post mortem revealed a fracture of the: skull extending back-. Wards;fr6m; a caniier, which had eaten thrqjigh-the bone.:of'the" skull so that the brain.was exposed atone spot.-Hill must have died in a few weeks. Death was due to fracture of the skull.- Hill's son stated that his father was. a .butcher', employed at Islington. He.was given- ..to drink, but was not under, its influence on the day of the. accident.;' A verdict was returned' in accordance with the medical testimony, the Coroner remarking that persons crossing the rajlway, line and not using the overbridge - must be prepared to take the consequences.: ;"'. ;....