FATALITY AT TE WERA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 107, 27 June 1911, Page 5

FATALITY AT TE WERA.

THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at Te Wora yesterday to enquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of Harry Woods on Saturday night. Mr. James Sexton acted as Coroner, and the following jury was empannolled: —Messrs. 0. McAloon, G. Peterson, M. O’Neill, G. Williams, B. Boyle, arid V, Nolan. George E. Sharman, driver on the Public Works Department’s engine, gave evidence that ho travelled with deceased in the 7 p.m. train from Stratford on Saturday. He did not know deceased. On approaching Te Wora Woods shook hands with witness and left the carriage. Shortly afterwards witness felt a slight bump —as though the train had gone over a stpne. When the train stopped he got off and looked back, as also did the guard of the train, but they could see nothing. Witness did not know of the accident until midnight. In tho train deceased was speaking about his past life and adventures, and also said he was paralysed. Deceased was perfectly sober and did not show the slightest sign of drink. There was nothing in deceased’s conversation to suggest that ho contemplated suicide. Witness was of opinion that death was purely accidental. Frederick J. Bateman, guard on the train, said deceased came to the van at Stratford and loft a parcel. He was_ perfectly sober. Witness saw him again near Douglas, when he was collecting tickets, and on returning'to the van got deceased’s parcel ready, as lie said ho wanted to get away as soon as possible. Tho parcel was nor claimed at To Wera. When tho train stopped witness looked hack but saw nothing. After witness went homo Constable Scannell came to him, about 9.30 p.m., and told him about the accident. On returning with the constable he found deceased lying alongside the line by the points, beyond tho station.

A. T. lluane, fireman on tho train, said tiio train stopped just outside tho points, waiting for the signal. Alfred J. Johnson, stationmaster at Te Worn, said ho was on the station when the train came in, but from where lie stood ho thought ho could not have seen anybody falling olf tho train. Andrew Goiilton, farmer, Huiakama,.said he had known deceased for about seventeen years. Woods left witness's place on Friday, to go to Stratford. Deceased was paralysed down tho loft side.; Ho was not subject to fits. Ho was a widower, and was about seventy years old. For his age ho was an active man. He gave no indication of wishing to commit suicide. Constable Scanned ’ ■ said'' 'he was' standing about fifteen yards away from the points, but he saw nobody ini! off tho train. He hoard about tho accident from two Maoris who came to his office and said there , was a “drunk” Iving by tho line. He went along the line and found deceased lying on his stomach. His head was terribly knocked about. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The following rider was added ;—That a light should be i hired at tho north end of the platform, as the principal part of tho rjassengers have to alight there, which is past tho ordinary light. The jury •xro of opinion that if tho light had been at the north end the accident would probably have been seen, and it is cert-in tho body would have been found lb r.