THE INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2653, 18 January 1905, Page 25

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Hospital on Monday afternoon before Mr C. C. Graham (coroner) and a, jury, of whom Mr J. Diithie was chosen foreman, to inquire into the death of Thomas Ward, victim of a fatal railway accident at the Cattle Yards on Saturday. — Mr J. F. M. Fraser appeared on behalf of the Railway Department" and Mr Hanlon on behalf of the relatives of deceased.

James Ward, cab driver, father of deceased, said the latter was a fireman in the employ of the Railway Department, single, and 22 years of age, and resided with his parents. Deceased went to his work as usual on Saturday morning. He was in good health, and not subject to fits of any kind. *

John Pearson, engine driver, stated that he was in charge of the engine of a goods train that left Mosgiel for Dunedin at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday. Deceased was fireman on the engine. At the Cattle Yards Station the engine was taken off and taken over to what was known as the public siding to pull out some empties. They had coupled on to the waggons, and were in the act of pulling otit, and had gone a short distance, when deceased, who was standing on the engine footplate as if looking out for a signal, with his back towards the front of the engine, was struck by a post at the saleyards. Deceased was leaning out slightly. Witness was looking out on the opposite side, "and turned round just as deceased was struck. Witness called out, but deceased fell almost immediately off the footplate of the engine, and witness lost sight of him. The engine was pulled up as promptly as possible, and deceased was found lying between the loading bank and the waggons. Some of the wheels had gone over one of his legs. Dec-eased was quite conscious. Deceased had been working with witness constantly fGithree or four months, and witness had warned him to be careful about this particular place, as it was so olose. Deceased was a careful young man. After he was lifted on to the loading bank he said, " Oh, Jack, I forgot all about it." First aid was administered to the injured man by Mr Waldie, porter at the Cattle Yards, and he was then conveyed to the train and a doctor telephoned for. Deceased was taken into town and removed to the Hospital.

To Sub-inspector Green: It appeared to be the corner post at the yards that struck deceased. This particular post did not appear to clear the engine by more than four or five inches.

To Mr Hanlon: Witness knew that various engine-drivers had warned their men to be careful at th© same place. In .witness's opinion there was a risk of an accident happening at the spot referred to. It was customary for fireman and driver to lean out looking for signals. On the side on which deceased was, at tihe spot referred to, it was impossible for him to see a signal. Witness knew of no other place on the line where an obstruction was so close to the line as at this place at the Cattle Yards. An inexperienced man might easily meet with an accident. Deceased was absolutely sober and attending carefully to his duty.

To Mr Fraser: Deceased had gone into that particular siding scores of times. The engine used was one of the widest used on the line probably.

To the Foreman • Not only in witness's opinion was the post referred to dangerous,

but the fence for five or six chains was verf close.

Dr Hotop, resident house surgeon at the Hospital, stated that on Saturday about 5 p.m. deceased was brought to the Hospital, accompanied by Dr Church, who had gone out to the Cattle Yards to attend to him. Deceased had a compound fracture of the left thigh, the leg below the knee was badly crushed, and he had cuts on the head and other injuries, and was suffering from severs shock. The injured leg was amputated, but deceased died shortly after 10 o'clock, never rallying after the operation. The leg was amputated about 5.30, on the arrival of Dr S. Batchelor, who was sent for, and after consultation.

James Lawson, guard in charge of the train in question, also gave evidence, in which he stated that the fence in question seemed to him unusually close, closer than that of any other cattle yards he knew of. Further evidence was given by John Arthur Borlase. shunter, who stated that only shunting trains passed very close to the fence irt question. It was necessary to have the posts close for cattle-loading purposes. Mr Fraser explained a diagram of the railway at the locality to the jury, and stated that the clearance between the engine and the post in question was 6£ inches, the trucks having more clearance.

The jury returned a verdict that " Deceased met his death by having been accidentally struck by a post in the fence of the Cattle Yards, which, in the opinion of the jury, isdangerously close to the railway line."