The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-01-28 00:00:00

A RAILWAY TRAGEDY.

An inquest was held at Watford on Saturday, before
Mr. Brabant, Coroner for East Herts, on the body of a
man, name unknown, who was found on the line near
Watford Tunnel shortly after four o'clock on the pre-
vious Wednesday. Mr. J. Groom, district superinten-
dent, represented the London and North-Western
Railway Company.
Mr. W. Bartram, of Garfield House, Willesden, said:
—On Wednesday, the 18th January, I travelled from
Liverpool by the train leaving there about eleven, in a
third-class carriage. I have seen the body of the de-
ceased, and have no doubt it is that of a passenger
who was in the train when it left Liverpool. I knew
one lady who was in the carriage, but I lost sight of
her at Euston. There were two other ladies, two
children, and four gentlemen, including deceased, in
the carriage. He was facing London, and to the best
of my recollection sat still the whole time. The train
stopped at Rugby for a few minutes and I got out, but
from a conversation I had with the lady mentioned I
believed the deceased retained his seat. We
were in a tunnel near Watford Station, when I heard
the window slammed down, and I heard a lady say,
"What are you doing ? There is no station here."
It was shrieked out in terror, and I could see that
the deceased was trying to open the door on the right
hand side of the carriage. Just at that moment
we were leaving the tunnel. I could see the man
outside the door standing on the step. Just before
we entered the tunnel the man who sat opposite the
deceased .turned his back to him and commenced
folding his wraps on the seat. I saw the last-
mentioned gentleman turn and make a grab at de-
ceased. At that moment deceased was gone. We
had some difficulty in closing the door. The ladies
were screaming and in a terrible state; and we were
afraid the children might fall out. We were going at
express speed. We decided to inform the officials at
Willesden. A train passed us going in the opposite
direction a few minutes later.
To the jury: I did not see deceased take anything,
on the way. 'lf he was under the influence of drink he
did not show it.
that J o John
and Gray,
his mate
platelayersaweth
something
Watford
inglt
yiTnugnni statednelihe
six-
foot way, and found it was the body of a man. He
lay straight on his back, with theright leg crossed over
m
the left. Witness picked up his skull and brains and
buried them.
Mr. E. Crook, stationmaster at Watford, stated that
on receiving information as to the finding of the body he
proceeded to the spot, in company with Dr. Rudgard
who said that his life was extinct.

Dr. Brady deposed to making ap- ost-mortem examina-
tion. The face was worn and haggard, atid
apparently that of a man who had lived hard. . There
was no food in the stomach, and witness should say
he was in the habit of taking stimulants:largely. The
skull was smashed, and there were other very serious
injuries. Witness thought a down train must have
come into contact with the deceased.
Inspector York produced the articles found on the
body. He said the pocket-book contained no name.
On the book being handed to Mr. Groom, he called the
coroner's attention to the fact that the name of the
superintendent of the railway company in the city of
London' was entered in it, apparently in connection
with a claim made by the deceased, and this might
lead to his identity being discovered.
The inquest was adjourned for a fortnight.

YOUNG 'wife (at dinner-table, exclaims, between
sobs): "I made that—that apple dumpling as a
pleasant surprise for you, and now—you—want me
to bring a hand-saw—to cut it in two with." Young
Husband: "Good heavens, Susan! Is that a dump-
, ling ? I took it for a c.)coannt." (With desperate
firmness). "I'll eat some of it now, if it kills me.
Thank heaven! my life's insured! All I. ask is that
you will make just such a dumpling for my suc-
cessor." L
. vitt' =A