LIFE LOST FOR COIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18858, 8 November 1935, Page 3

LIFE LOST FOR COIN

.JUMP IN FRONT OF TRAIN LONDON, Sept. 2~>. Evidence ihnl a schoolmaster jumped from Ihe pint form at Reading siaiion, presumably In recover something thai he had dropped on the line, just as an express train was entering, was given al the inquest al Rending yesterday on Ifo'berl Briekno.ll Whicker, (!(>, a master al Parnborough School, Son ning. Three coins were found on the line. (I was slnled Ilia I Mr Whicker was deaf and sho. l-sighled. In his possession were found jnuings of Latin verse, which he had 'been I ranslaiihg to while away ihe time on Ihe jntir now I'ercival I'nr.ly, a porter, said jnsl before the train entered the platform Mr Whicker laid down his mackintosh, {.in his hand on ihe edge of the platform, and jumped down. " My impression." he added, " was thai iiis nction was deliberate, euid I hnl he got down to recover something he had dropped." The coroner, Mr .1. 1.. Martin, said there was in.lliin.u- In suggest that Mr Whicker intended lo lake his life, lie I hough i thai there was a strong assumption Ihnl he weal afler Ihe coins. The jury returned a verdict of death bv misadventure.