The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-02 00:00:00

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SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT

BRETTELL LANE.

On Monday evening last a shocking accident
occurred at Brettell Lane Railway Station. At
about 0.50 pm, , the Crewe goods' train was
standing in the station, over a level crossing, and
a woman named Ann Turley, between 60 and 70
years of age, who resided at Brettell Lane, was
in company with her two daughters, and came
up to the crossing with the intention of going
over. The one daughter went under the trucks
with safety. The engine was unhooked, and went
into a siding to fetch some more trucks to attach
to the train. As they were chilling back Mrs.
Turley got under the trucks, and her head was
caught between the butlers and smashed. Her
brains were scattered and death was instantane-
ous. Mr. Penson, the station-master, at once
hasteued to the spot, and sent for Mr. Chapman,
surgeon, of.Brierley Hill, who arrived in a short
time, but the old lady was past help. The body
was taken to her home.
THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held on the body on Thurs-
day, at the Unicorn Inn, before Mr. W. H. Phil-
lips, Deputy-Coroner. Mr. Addison attended to
watch the case for the friends of deceased, and
Mr. Inspector Leadbrook, Mr. Inspector Lock,
and Mr. Penson, station-master, on behalf of the
Company.
The first witness called was Mary Ann Turley,
who deposed: I am the eldest daughter of the
deceased, and lived with her at home. She was
69 years old. On Monday night]. left home with
my mother to go and see a sister across the
bridge. She had just returned from London.
We went about eight o'clock, and returned just
before ten o'clock. As we came up Meeting-lane
we went to cross the line just below Brettell
Lane station. There is a cart road. As we
came up to the railway there was no light, nor
anyone about. Some trucks were across the line.
My sister, who was with me, passed between the
trucks. She did not appear to have any difficulty.
My mother then tried to pass through, when the
trucks moved, and caught her. My sister
" screeched "and I thought there was something
the matter. Some men came to carry me away.
I afterwards saw my mother who was kiiled by
being crushed. The station-master came, and
my sister asked for a light, when the station-
master said, "Let her lie," and refused to bring
a light, and said it was nothing to do with us.
He afterwards brought a light, and was taking
it away, when my sister ran after him, and took
the light off him. He did not render any assist-
ance.

Cross-examined by Mr. Addison: I did go by
the watch-box. There was no light there, or
any one about.
Harriet Turley deposed: lam a single woman,
and lived with my mother and sister. On Mon-
day night I went with my mother and sister to
go and see another sister. We went along the
canal side, and on returning my mother said she
thought the best road to go back would be across
the railway, as the canal side was an ugly road
at night. Have crossed the railway road before,
and considered it a public road. On crossing
the line I saw no light; it was all quiet. There
were trucks on the line, and room to pass
through. I passed through. Did not have to
stoop. There was just room for me to pass.
After Iliad passed through I heard the trucks
" bump." Did not hear any engine or sound till
I heard the " bump." As my mother was trying
to pass through after me, she was caught be-
tween the two trucks I had passed through, and
crushed. I said to her, " Mother," she said,
"My wench," and she did not speak after. I
fell down insensible. I afterwards recollect s
Company's servant coming with a light. He was
tall man. He said, as my mother lay down,
"Lot her lie," and toak the light away. I ran
after him and took it off him.

By Mr. Addison : I did not look into the watch-
man's box. Did not see any light, or any one
about.

By Inspector Leadbrook : Did not see any
light tinder the trucks. My mother was crushed
by the trucks.
Inspector Lock deposed: I am inspector, and
know the station in question. There is a cros-
sing on the South side of the station, a cart and
foot-road. There are four sets of rails, the up
and down line and two sidings. There is agate
on each side of the approach, and a turn•stile on
each side. Thero is a crossing-keeper kept there
day and night. On Monday night Walter Par.
bins was on duty. His duty is also to shunt
.z.oods after time o'clock at night. There is a
light at the end of the goods shed to show a
light over the crossing, and it is his duty to see
the light ie burning. The turn-stile is left open
so that persons could pass through. The place '
where the accident occurred has been pointed
out to me, which is the down line. Deceased
would have to pass under the buffers. She must
have passed under one pair, and in getting up
and trying to pass under some others they mast
have caught her head. Thetrains were coupled
together beyond doubt. The man does some
some time assist in shunting. At that time no
reasonable person would attempt to pass, as the
train would be standing. It is the same plan
adopted at other small stations.
Richard Penson deposed : I am station-master
at Brettell Lane Station, and have been so for
four years. All the shunting in the traffic de-
pal-tweet is under niv management. I have 11
men under me, day and night. There is a man
kept regularly at the crossing, and in the day
time he attends to one pair of points, and at
night attends to the shunting. Walter Parkins
was on duty that night. I was at the station,
lie was on the crossing until the goods came to
. a stand. It wzis the down-train 9.47. He would
then have to leave the crossing and attend to
the shunting. The gate would be looked at