THE HYDE SMASH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25364, 23 October 1943, Page 4

THE HYDE SMASH

OJGINE DRIVER ON TRIAL JURY INSPECTS CARRIAGES The trial of John Patrick Alphonsus Corcoran, aged 51, on a charge of manslaughter, arising out of the railway accident between Hyde and Middlemarch on June 4 last, was continued in the Supreme Court yesterday before Mr Justice Kennedy. Corcoran was charged that by driving a railway train negligently and at an excessive speed, lie did kill Francis Robert Kinney, thereby committing manslaughter. Mr F. B Adams conducted the case for the Crown, and Mr E. J. Anderson appeared for the accused. This was the fourth day of the hearing. During the day’s proceedings, Mr Adams said that questions put to witnesses suggested that some of the carriages attached to the train were old ones, and he asked that the jury should be given an opportunity of inspecting the type of carriage used. One of the steel cars actually used on the train, he said, could be seen that gfternoon in the railway yards, and specimens of each of the other two types would also be assemblde at the same time. His Honor agreed that hte inspection should be carried out, and suggested that the jury should see the engine used on the wrecked train. Mr Adams said that the engine could be seen later, and also remnants of the wrecked train at the Hillside Workshops. „ . Evidence was given by George Stuart James Read assistant locomotive engincer, Dunedin, of the assembling of the cars for the inspection and details of their construction. One of the cars was actually involved in the smash, but had been repaired since the accideinvas at this stage the jury inspected the cars. ' . „

Ml C _ ... “ Dangerous Speed Giving evidence regarding the speed of the train, which he joined at Waipiata, William Gunnyon. a commercial traveller, cf Dunedin, said he made an effort to read, but was unable to do so as the train was rocking so much. After the train left Hyde it seemed to be travelling at a dangerous speed. Joseph Geoffrey, a farmer, of Wedderburn, said that after passing Kokonga the speed of the train increased to such an extent that two bags were thrown from the luggage rack. Alured George Mathias, a farmer, or Waipiata, said he generally enjoyed railway travelling, but on the trip on June 4 he felt very nervous because of the swaying of the carriage. He put this down to the speed of the train. Evidence as to the nature of the injuries suffered by one of the passengers who was killed was , given by Arthur Alexander Reid, medical practitioner, of Dunetpatrick McCarthy* a draper, of Watkouaiti, said he boarded the train at Waipiata, and after leaving that station he noticed that the carriage he was in was swaying violently. The trip was a by Mr Anderson, witness said it was one of the roughest trips he had experienced on the line, lne train had Dulled up with a ]erk at both the Hyde and Hyde Township stops. Evidence on similar lines was given by John Malachy O’Connell, farm hand (Hyde), Brian Gard’ner. school teacher (Kokonga), by deposition, Francis Joseph Beel farmer (Hyde), Katherine Margaret Bennets, heme science teacher (Dunedin), ‘Dorothy Beryl Beel married woman (Hyde). James Lynch, fat stock buyer (Ranfurly), Robert John Little, shepherd (Chatto Creek), Richard Kenneth Smith, farm hand, (W a ipiata), A.n rie Sinclair, married woman (Wedderburn), Margaret Hansen, married woman (Cromwell), George Albert Hansen, soldier (Cromwell). Charles Alexander Woods, road construction worker (Hornby). Dorothy Sarah Mary Crombie, married woman (Bannockburn), Harry . station manager, now an aircraftman (Kokonga), and Stanley Eric Little, shepherd (Alexandra). Condition of Engine Albert Stanton, railway - foreman, of Dunedin, said he had inspected the engine at the scene of the derailment. The regulator of the con- . trols was closed, and the reverse lever was In gear. The Westinghouse brake handle was in running position. This Indicated that the engine was drifting at the time of the accident, and that there was no steam on. He found the bottom half of a beer bottle in the cab of the engine, but he could not smell anything in it, nor was there any label on the bt The court adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Monday, when the jury will visit the Hillside Railway Workshops to inspect the engine and wreckage of the train.