INQUEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 13 March 1908, Page 5

INQUEST

(Per Press Association.;

WELLINGTON, March 12. After five sittings, the inquest touching the death of. Mrs Lydia:Tilbury (the victim of the coach, and train collision at Appleby on February Ist) was concluded to-day, when the eoachdriver (Charles Brickland) was examined. He said he had been, driving the Nekon Motueka coach since April last, and on February Ist he was returning to Nelson and Redwoods Valley, reaching the scene of the accident at 12 noon. He did not hear the engine whistle, and did not see the train until the coach was on the railway line. He. had no time to do anything to avert the accident, and had not a clear recollection of what occurred. He was not aware that a special train was running on that day. The coach and harness were in good order, and the horses were quiet. Had he seen the train he could have pulled up in a couple of yards. He did not remember Miss Fittall (the passenger on the box) calling his attention to the approach of the train. He was exercising ordinary care on that day, but he admitted that had he looked to the right the train would have been visible for some distance up the line. He had no explanation to offer as to how the accident occurred. He had previously met with an accident on the same coach, when the horses shied and witness and the box passengers had been thrown off. That mishap was not of a serious nature. ' " .

Counsel addressed the jury, and the Coroner summed up at considerable length.

After half-an-hour's retirement the jury found that deceased met her death in a collision between the coach and a train at Appleby crossing on February Ist. the accident being caused by the negligence of Charles Brickland (tho coach driver). A rider was added to the effect that no blame was attachably to the railway officials.