VERDICT AT INQUEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 4

VERDICT AT INQUEST

DEATH OF MAORI GIRL

OVERTAKEN BY TRAIN

A verdict that a Maori child, Bella Broughton, died as a result of influence meningitis, precipitated by concussion of the brain received when she was overtaken by a train on a small bridge near Palea was returned by the coroner, Mr. E. F. Hemingway, at the inquest, held in Patea recently. Thomas William Underwood (Wanganui). fireman employed by the New Zealand Railways, stated that he was fireman on the engine of a mixed train travelling between Wanganui and Hawera on October 13. Approaching the Patea railway bridge the speed was about 20 miles per hour. Witness saw three children on the bridge when the engine was about 30 yards from the end of the bridge, and a short time before this the enginedriver applied the emergency brake and sounded the whistle. Before the train got to the bridge witness saw two children running across the bridge. The biggest of the children got off the bridge first. The smaller child was running hard and she stumbled and recovered. She ran a bit further and then fell between the rails. The engine was nearly on the bridge when the child fell at the other end. She was lying still as the engine passed over her. The driver had not sufficient, time to pull the train up. Norman John Paterson (Wanganui), driver, said he did not see the child lying between the rails, but the girl who stepped off the bridge was looking under the train. When the train stopped he went to the rear of the train and found that, the eldest child had the one who had been under the train in her arms. She was unconscious and there was blood on her forehead. Just before the doctor arrived witness heard the child crying and did not think she had been seriously hurt.

Oura Wereta, 10 years of age. said that, in company with Joyce and Bella Broughton, she was going to Wai-o-turi pa from Patea. When they reached the bridge Bella went, first, witness next and Joyce lasi. She heardkJoyce call oul that, a train was coming. Bella was nearly at the end of the bridge and witness stepped on to the safety zone but Bella turned and ran back across the bridge. Witness called out and told her to come on to the safety zone but she did not seem to hear, and kept on running. Near the end of the bridge she tripped and fell. Joyce Broui.hton gave similar evidence.

Dr. W. T. Simmons gave evidence that at the railway station he saw the child in the guard’s van. She was unconscious and had a small wound. There was no fractrue ’oldhe skull. She did not recover consciousness and gradually. developed symptoms of meningitis which proved to be of the Influenzic type. Her condition deteriorated and she died on October 21. The cause of death was influenzic meningitis, precipitated by concussion of the brain.