HYDE DISASTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25385, 17 November 1943, Page 4

HYDE DISASTER

CONCLUSION OF INQUESTS FORMAL VERDICTS RETURNED The inquest into the deaths of 18 passengers who were killed in the railway disaster at Hyde on June 4 last was concluded before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., yesterday. In regard to 17 of the victims, the coroner returned a verdict in each case that the deceased had been killed in a railway accident at Hyde. In the case of another passenger who had died later in the Dunedin Public Hospital a verdict was returned that he had died from injuries received in a railway accident at Hyde. Detective R. J. A. Berry gave evidence of having attended the scene of the tragedy, when it was found that the following passengers had been killed:— Duncan Brown. Lindsay, aged 50, farmei, of Wedderburn; John Black Connor, aged 11, of Kyeburn; Thomas Weymss Chisholm, aged 59, carpenter, of Cromwell; Irene Elizabeth White, aged 32, married woman, of Timaru; John Martin Nicholas Frater, aged 69, retired orchardist, of Alexandra; Francis Robert Kinney, aged 19, farmhand, of Hyde; Desmond Edward White aged 4 months, of Timaru; Thomas Black Connor, aged 44, farm manager, of Kyeburn; Charles Robert McKenzie, aged 25. labourer, of Dunedin; John David Maskill, aged 3 years, of Dunedin; John William White, aged 4 years, of Timaru; William Vivian Carson, aged 24 painter, of Ranfurly; Ethel Annie Cassells, aged 39. married woman, of Kokonga; Duncan MacDonald, aged 41, farm labourer, of Patearoa; Daniel McDonald, aged 56, farmer, of Poolburn Charles Thompson Douglas, aged 59, rabbiter, of Kyeburn; Thomas Henry Clare aged 59, blacksmith, of Oamaru. An inquest had been opened at Hyde on June 5 and had been adjourned. Marshall Murray Gowland, resident surgical officer at the Dunedin Public Hospital, gave evidence of the injuries received by Frederick Phillip Christopher, aged 57, traveller, of Dunedin, who had been admitted to the Hospital after the accident and who had later died. Detective Sergeant J. Gibson represented the Police Department. Mr W. E. Wilson the Railways Department, and Mr J. P. Ward the relatives of five of V an inquest held in Ranfurly on November 2 Mr Dixon returned a verdict that the following had died as a result of injuries received in a railway accident at Hyde;—Robert Carr, aged 85, farmer, of Patearoa; John Crawfcrd Wright, aged 26 soldier, of Dunedin. It is expected that the adjourned inquest concerning John Edward O’Connell, aged 67, farmer, of Hyde, who died in the Maniototo Hospital shortly after the accident, will be completed at an early date.