The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-07 00:00:00

THE INQUEST.

The inquest upon the bodies of Mrs. Brown, Mrs.
Caroline Over, Miss Robinson, Mr. Corbett, and
Master Knivett, was opened on Monday afternoon in
the police court by Mr. W. J. Harris, the Coroner
for the division of Kent in which Sittingbourne is
situated. After the jury had been sworn and had in-
spected the points and viewed the bodies of the dead
(five in number),
The Coroner stated that he proposed to take evidence to
identify the bodies, and would then adjourn the inquiry
until they had the assistance of an inspector appointed by
the Board of Trade. Later in the day he announced that
Colonel Rich had been appointed by the Board to inquire
into the collision, and they would proceed with the inquiry
as far as they could that day, and perhaps, as Colonel Rich
recommended, close it on the next.

Sir Sydney Waterlow said he thought it was only due to
the Coroner and to the gentlemen of the Jury that he
should attend there that day, as deputy-chairman of the
company, first to say how very deeply the directors deplored
the terrible accident that occurred on their line on Satur-
day afternoon, and to assure the coroner and the gentle-
men of the jury that the directors desired to afford the
Court the fullest information thrtugh their counsel,
their officers, and their servants. He hoped also that he
might be allowed to say how deeply the directors were
Indebted, not only to the vicar, but to all the inhabitants
of Sittingbourne, rich and poor, for their kindness to the
sufferers. He had himself that day personally visited many
of the sufferers, and he felt deeply the kindness with which
they had been received.
- - •

-
Mr. Charles Wheeler Limbrey, provision merchant, re-
siding at 49, Canterioury-road, Brixton, identified Mrs.
Caroline Amelia Over as his sister. She was 48 years of age,
and the wife of John Over, of 36, Loughborough-road,
Brixton, oil and colour merchant. She was a passenger by
the cheap fast Ramsgate train on Saturday morning last from
Broadstairs to London.

Mr. Peter Eaton, a college servant, at 6, Northbury-ter-
race, Oxford, identified Mrs. Jane Brown as wife of Mr.
James Edward Brown. She was not related to the witness.
She resided at 7, Northbury-terrace, Oxford. Her husband
was a pianoforte tuner. Her age was 68. She was a pas-
senger by the train previously referred to on Saturday morn-
ing last. He had seen her body.
Mr. James Robinson identified the body of Jane Robinson.
He is a carpenter, residing at Barton-under-Needwood, in
Staffordshire. The deceased was his sister. She was a single
woman, resided at Hugeley, in Staffordshire, and was about
83 years of age. She was a passenger by the train on Satur-
day morning. He had seen the body in coffin Ni. Z.

Mr. Walter Taylor, of 1 and 2, Princes-street, Leicester.
square, clerk, identified the body of Frederick Walter
Harvey Knevitt. The deceased was his nephew, and was a
boy of 13 years of age, son of Frederick and Caroline Knevitt,
of 55, Whitfield-street, Tottenham-Court-road, London,
The boy was a passenger from Ramsgate on Saturday
morning, August 31, and the witness identified his body in
coffin No. L
Mr William Bell, a packer of 46, Greek-street. Soho-
square, identified the body of George William Corbett.
The deceased had come to spend a week at Belmont-road,
Broadstairs, with some friends, and was employed in the
Home Office, in the Prisoners' Department. Mr. Corbett
was 18 last January. The witness identified his body in
coffin No. 8. He was a passenger in the second compartment
of the first third-class carriage (next to the tender), and left
the witness at Broadstairs station between fifteen and
twenty minutes to twelve in good health and spirits.
The evidence of the driver and head guard of the goods
train was then taken, and the inquiry was adjourned.

The inquest was resumed and concluded on Tuesday,
but our limited space precludes us from giving the evi-
dence of all the witnesses. Amongst other witnesses,
CHARLES CLARKE, who turned the waggons on to the up
line, was examined, and, on being sworn, said :

I am an under-guard. I acted as under-guard to the
goods train which arrived at Sittingbourne on Saturday at
12.1 G.
The Coroner: Now, Clark, it is my duty to explain to you
that you are not obliged to say anything here if you believe
It will induce a criminal charge being made against you. I
am quite ready to take your evidence, but it is quite at your
option if you say anything, You are not obliged to say any-
thing that will criminate yourself. Do you understand me?
—Yes, sir.