DROP FROM TRAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 6

DROP FROM TRAIN

ACCIDENTAL FALL INTO RIVER DEATH OF JOHN DEMPSTER (From Our Own Correspondent) WHAXGAREI, To-day. That he met his death by drowning, the result of accidentally falling from the Whangarei express into the Kaipara River, was the verdict returned by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., on the inquest into the death of John Dempster. The evidence of one of Dempster’s mates, Joseph Grady, showed that both men were returning from holidays in Auckland by the Whangarei express. When the train was nearing the Topuni bridge Dempster went out on to the carriage platform. A few seconds later, when the train was crossing the bridge, Grady beard someone shout, “He’s gone over!” Grady immediately rushed to the platform, but the train had crossed the bridge and entered Topuni station. The police were notified of the disappearance and seven hours later they discovered the body in the water 60ft below the railway.

Dempster was a single man aged 45. At the time when Dempster left the carriage a tremendous wind was blowing which, stated Grady, was strong enough to blow the man away if taken unawares.