The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-30 00:00:00

SATIJIDAY, .Aror s 9 EO, 1672.

insensible, and carried to the Sportsman Hotel,
where he died in a few minutes. Mr. Kerr, sur-
geon, was in attendance, but deceased died before
his services were available. The surgeon was of
opinion that deceased died from dislocation of the
neck. _ _ _

An inquest was held on the body on Wednesday,
before Mr, E. Hooper, coroner, at the Sportsman
Hotel, Old Hill.
Mr. Oldershaw appeared on behalf of Mr. Shakes-
peare. for the filen& of deceased, and Mr. Grover,
with Inspectors Ledbrook and Lock, attended on be-
half of the Great Western Railway Company.
Ellen Phipps said she lived at Old Hill. On Mon-
day night she rode from Smethwiek with deceased,
by the 7.30 train from Birmingham. They were in
a second-class carriage. Witness was going to Old
Hill. On reaching Old Hill Station, deceased got
out to assist her out. The train had not quite come
to a standstill. As he got out be slipped and fell.
The train might have stopped before he fell. Wit-
ness got out onto the platform. She did not hear
anyone call out from the platform. Deceased was
sober. If the train had stopped, witness would have
got out where deceased did. It was very dark, and
the train was full,

Cross•examined by Mr. Oldershaw : There were
lights on the platform, but not on the bridge. The
train was coming to a stand when deceased fell.

By a Juror : here wag a light in the carriage,
and that made it more dangerous, as the light re-
flected on the bridge, and made it resemble the plat-
fem.

George Chance, residing at Stamber Mill, said the
train was in motion when deceased got out. Wit.
, nose stayed in the carriage until the train came to a
' stand. Deceased asked witness if he would assist
the last witness out of the carriage, and on his refus-
ing to do so he said, " Let your grandfather do it; he
is insured.' The train was longer than the plat-
form. Deceased stepped on to the bridge, and then
fell down. The train stopped before the carriage
they were in reached the platform. Witness got out
of the carriage and put his foot on what he thought
was the platform, but it was the bridge. Some one
pulled him back into the carriage or he should have
gone over the bridge himself.*
Thomas Evans, guard in the employ of the Great
Western Railway Company, said he was in charge of
the 7.30 p.m. train on Monday night from Birming-
ham to Hartlebury. The train did not artive at Old
Hill until 8.24. It ought to have got there at 8.2.
He saw a door open of the North-Western carriage,
and called out, " Keep that door shut:behind ; keep
you seats till the train draws to the platform.'
There were only three carriages behind his van.
When the train stopped, the carriage where deceased
got ant was on the bridge. The train was longer
than the platform. The platform is not long enough
for an excursion train. There was nothing to pre-
vent passengers getting out of the train at that par-
ticular point if they thought they were on the plat-
form. Witness could not say whether there were
lights at the station or not.
Samuel Ball, miner, Cox's Dine, Old Hill, said he
was passing under the bridge on Monday night 'be
deceased fell down, and caught him on the arm. He
asked deceased if he was hurt much, and deceased
said, " Take me away from here." He never spoke
again. There were carriages on the bridge when de-
ceased fell. Witness called for assistance, and de-
ceased was carried to the Sportsman Hotel, where he
died in a few minutes. When withess picked de-
ceased up, his head fell on one side.
Cross-examined by Inspector Ledbrook. I heard
someone call out "Keep your seats" just as the poor
fellow came down to the ground.

Inspector Ledhrook said the line was passed in
1867 by the inspector, who said it was safe. He
thought that if a fence was placed on the top of the
bridge any person getting tout would be dashed against
the fence, and thrown back under the wheels. He
considered the danger would be equally great. The
platform has been lengthened within the last two
years.

The Coroner, in summing up, said if the man had
not got out before the train had stopped the case
would have assumed a more serious aspect, but as he
got out whilst it was in motion he was himself to
blame. Any suggestion the Jury might offer he
would forward to the Great Western Railway Co.
The Jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death,"
with a recommendation to the Great Western Rail.
way Company that the bridge be made safe for pas-
sengers.

. .. __
were sevirel ',Masser*, but they bad
Inspector Prior said he should aik 'sof e rermr,gi„:'.
week to enable Finn to so—tiono Cii % :Ip'
_a,. it:
ease wee 11140411111 d.
Co•L RITIALLM.-4 lid Cl.. . LW.'
charged by Joseph Woodkall, 441. —.la sea the proanatyaf Waller U.N..) - C , os th—a 4
inst. P. WA he ber '4.4 ' ii Old 84
Ili
On the:above date be wee on Y1ii7•‘111.0147 shoed lour o'aloak pin. Ho taw Uwe ?, ~,7
the pit bask :wait two Warps al et.)l„ 61,114
fact
arm. When d deadest got into the to,' a
.Sirm WM
him what he was doing with Olio soak. -
Woodhall had OM it to Min Re 6- tae. coal dan on the: road and he saki coald Pre AiLice: Mit 6
To.
would lid hi= go. Ma cool WU AG' Pk.
hall, manager to tiomplainki,
defendant to him tad the seta, i 'esti:lM
Defendant asked witness to toryi tr.:. Degoi.a...
getting 164 per week. The Beach
to take the ease under the juvenile silk 164#.74
pleaded guilty, and was Rued 1. 14.