Inquest.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2950, 23 November 1900, Page 3

Inquest.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, before the Coroner, Mr C. A. Wray, touching the death of Eric Redmond. The following sat as the jury Messrs D, Virtue, (foreman), H. V. Stapleton, D. J. Mclntyre, T. W. Smith, A. Crawford, T L. Harney. Mr Marcus appeared to represent the Ra’lway Department Mrs R’dmond, mother of deceased, said that the hoy was five years and five months old. Saw him lost about half-past 1 o’clock on Wednesday, playing on the street with another child. Her children were not in the habit of playing in the railway yard, and witness did not send deceased there on Wednesday to gather kindling wood. Could not look after the children on Wednesday as she was laid up .all day. J)avid Ramsay, storeman at J. Mill and «Co/<5, said that a few minutes before 8 .o’clock he noticed the deceased on the platform at the grain store. Shortly afterwards heard the little girl scream. Ran over, and on going round some trucks saw the deceased lying between the rails. He was underneath the truck. Two wheels of one of the trucks went over him. The engine was taking trucks towards the wharf, and was going very slowly. Called <«it to the driver, who stopped almost immediately. Lifted the body from underneath the truck. It was m usual thing for •young children to go to the store for ’kindling wood ; witness and others had repeatedly sent them away, but they would come hack shortly afterwards. The crossing was generally used, about 50 or 60 men passing over daily. Witness had never known anyone to be stopped. An overhead bridge from the National Mortgage store to the other side of the railway iV'onld be the proper route of crossing if .one existed. Could not say whether there *ras a notice board that “ trespassers ■would be prosecuted ” put up on the telegraph post outside Evan’s mill. Mr Marcus said there was a notice board there.

W. G. Cooper, shunting engine driver, -said that he was engaged shunting in the yard on the water column road. Had trucks on both ends of the engine. Had been standing about a minute, and got the signal to draw ahead. Witness had just moved ■the engine when he heard some one call out “Stop.” Stopped nt once, and on looking round saw the last witness take the body of the child from under the leading truck. TVonj witness’s position on the engine could :not see the line in front of the truck, and would not see a person crossing in front if close to the waggon. Was of opinion that deceased got between the first and second waggons wlfile the engine was slopped, and had not time to get through. Children were 'constantly playing about the yard. There were several notice boards warning trespassers put up. Henry Ball, shunter, also gave evidence. Mr Marcus explained that the shunter was going towards the wharf, and it was the last track of all that went over the deceased. The driver’s attention was taken up with what was in front of him ; the accident happened behind him, and he could not possibly see the children crossing. The driver had given a wrong impression by his tevidence, by saying that it was the first

truck that went over the deceased. Driver Cooper was recalled, and corrected his evidence on that point. The engine was reversed, the J Tont facing south. The juiy returned a verdict of accidental death, adding as a rider;—“That the railway .authorities be requested to secure the end of Cliff street with a close-boarded or iron fence, so as to prevent children having access to the railway yard at its busiest part.” Mr Smith mentioned that he had another matter to lay before the coroner. When the body was taken to the Hospital by the police the hospital authorities made considerable objection and caused delay before taking the body into the morgue. It seemed very hard that a mutilated body should be refused admission into the only morgue in the township. He thought the delay was unwarrantable, and the sooner the matter was seen to the better. The morgue was connected with the hospital, which was a public institution, supported by the ratepayers, and it was strange that the ratepayers were not allowed to use what they paid for. The coroner said he quite agreed. The morgue was not merely for outside show, but should be available' for use on all occasions when required. The remedy for the present state of affairs was in the hands of the ratepayers.

Sergeant Green said that the body was only admitted as a favour or privilege extended to the police. Other jurymen said that As the public paid for the moraue thev should have the use of it when required.