A RAILWAY MYSTERY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2077, 31 August 1875, Page 3

A RAILWAY MYSTERY.

A coroner's inquest on the body of Harry Gustavus Hamiltonva midshipman, who met his death under mysterious circumstances on the Midland Railway, was concluded before Dr. Prior and a jury. Hamilton was journeying from London to; Liverpool, in a Pulman palace car. The persons travelling with'him, who werenot, however, in any way acquainted with, him, were Herbert Wallis, son of a gen-' tlernan in the neighbourhood of Bedford ; Mr Spraggett, a clergyman of the Church; of England; and another man named Freeman. The three were friends. Wallis gave evidence that he was help-, lessly drunk, and he believed his friends were not in a much better condition. Freeman told a story to the effect that two men, who,, on his.theory, were Wallis and the deceased, got out of the car andattempted to climb on the rcof, and the inference would then be that the deceased fell on to the line by accident. Wallis alleges that he can-: not recollect the circumstances correctly, but believes that he did attempt to reach the roof of the car. It was stated that when Mr Hamilton left home he had upwards of £30 in his possession," but when found on the line he had only £118s 6d in his purse. A gold watch and chain, a valuable ring, and other articles, were, however, found upon him. With reference to the suggestion that the deceased might have struck against a bridge several hundred yards from where the body was found, evidence was given yesterday to the e'ffe tt that this was impossible ; that some hair found on the bridge was not human hair; that there wf.s notrace of blood on the bridge, and the body was picked up 250 yards beyond it. The Rev W. Spraggett asked permission to deny that be was drunk. He had had some spirits with Wallis, whom he met half an hour before leaving St Pancras. He stated that the guard spoke to him twice—the first time when he. went out and saw persons sitting oa the roof, the next time when he .gave up his ticket. He did not think it necessary to warn the person he saw on the roof; Several passengers were called, who proved that there was a great noise, as of quarrelling,, in the smoking carriage. .-..', Mrs. Shafman, of the Shoulder of -Mutton publichouse,: deposed that Wallis, the last person stated to have been, with the deceased, told her on the afternoon after, the accident that a " God-damned fellow went over " from the Pulraan car in which he came to Bedford early that morning. Inspector Haynes said that within four hours of the accident Freeman, after considerable hesitation, said to him : "I saw Mr Wallis and a young sailor fellow leaving the Pulman car together. Wallis came back without his hat, and I saw no more of the young sailor fellow." Inspector Chambers stated that there were marks on the top of the carriage such as might have been caused by anyone attempting to get on the roof. The jury, after halfanhour's deliberation, found a verdict against the Eev. W, Spraggett, Mr Freeman, and M?i Wallis, who were at once taken into custody. .