The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-13 00:00:00

THE FATAL' ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON

AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.

THE ADJOURNED INQUEST.
OXFORD, WIDNBSDLY.
After the train left last night, Samuel Stringer, a
poulterer, was examined, bat his evidence was not mate-
rial, except in so far as it corroborated that of a previous
witness (Francis Cooper), respecting whose evidence some
strong observations had been made in the course of the
inquiry. Ile said he was at the bottom of Itaekhanerlane
at the time of the accident, end he *burred the lights of
the trains. Not knowing that only one line was used, and
therefore not anticipating the collision, he had not partieu•
lady noticed the lights, and he supposed that they ware the
engine fires.
John Barnes, of St. Ebbe'. carpenter, arrived at the
scene of the accident shortly after the collision ; but he de-
posed to no new fame of importance.
Jean Penfold—l am a policeman in the employ of the
London and North Western Railway, end on Monday
week I was on duty at the Wulvereott tunnel. I saw the
coal train come in. I was then at the Islip end of the
tunnel. This wee at half-pest five o'clock. I signalled
that the line was all right. Each of the engines of the train
had a blue buffer light in front, and a white light on each
side. The guard's van had three lights, two blue ones in
front sad a red one behind. lam stationed there merely
to see that the tunnel is clear. The train was passing at

. -
the rata of four miles an hour.
John Franeis-1 am a policeman, and was on duly at the
Oxford end of the Wohereon tunnel when the coal train
_

ises;d: Its earns buffer plank;
and I saw • red one behind the brake. I was stooping to
hold the points when the train passed, and did not notice
any other lights. A person can distinguish the colours of
the lights at the Oxford station when he steads against the
Wolvercott tunneL
Kr. Rester, after the evidence of this witness, thought
iso statement of Cooper, who said that he had noticed the
alms of the lights oa the engine from Rackham's-
seraer, would not appear to be so incredible as it had at
first struck the coroner and seine gentlemen of the jury.
It being now half-past nine o'clock, the inquiry was
adjourned.
The jury re-assembled at half-past one this afternoon,
and proceeded to the Radcliffe Infirmary, St. Giles's, Ox-
ford, where they examined,
John Briscoe, he house surgeon. Re said, I was at the
scene of the iceident on Monday week, soon after six
o'clock. I was the first medical man that reached the'spot.
On my way I met a railway carriage, that was being pushed
along. It contained a number of persons who bad been in-
jured. I also met some men carrying Samuel Wilcox, who
was taken to the infirmary. When I got to the place of the
accident I found • number of persons with lights, and
several with lanterns. I saw the body of amen lying under
the wreck, and I palled it oat—life was extinct. It was
taken to Sides's. The face was missing. but was afterwards
found. Eleven persons were brought to the infirmary.
Wilcox was the only one that died ; he died early on Thurs-
day morning. A man named iusd two boys are
able to be seen, if the jury desire it. All the others are
going on favourably, with one exception, the senior
Faulkner, who is not worse.
On returning to the inquest room,
Captain Wynn, the government inspector, read the rules
which had been lurnished him with respect to the starting
of trains. There was nothing in them se to the responsi-
bility of the station muter. lie did not knew whether the
jun, would like to inquire into that subject.
Captain Bruyeres stated that the guards started the
trains, and that they received their instructing' from the

station muter.
Mr. Thompson (who appeared for Kinch) then proceeded
to call witnesses to show the state of his client's mind after
the accident. When James Kirkby, the conductor of the
omnibus, had been sworn, Mr. Thompson desired that the
medical attendant of Kinch might be present.
Several jurors—" Oh, no • ' " I
thing is my life; " and similar remarks.
Mr. Thompson—Why, the evidence of this witness must
be read over to the medical gentleman, if he is to offer any
opinion upon what Bloch said.
A juror—We don't want any medical gentleman's opi-
nion upon what he hun. We will form our own opinion.
(Hear, hear.)
James Kirby—l am conductor of the omnibus from the
City to the station. On Monday afternoon week I went
with three passengersto go by the 6.30 train. I went on
the platform, and I arrived there about six minutes before
the proper time for starting. I went cut of the station
before the train started; but afterwards went in again.
After the accident I saw two young gentlemen, named
Jackson, running up the platform. They wanted a cab ;
and as there was not one I offered to take them in my 'bus
to High-street, whither they wished to go. I then re-
turned to the station. Mr. Slott came running to me and
asked me to get a fly or a cab, in order to procure all the
medical assistance possible. I did so and went with Mr.
Blott. When we had procured two doctors I drove them-to
the station. Aftewards Mr. Blott came to the station and
desired me to keep the door until the injured persons
should be brought down. I took three men who had been
hurt to the hospital, and when I returned I had orders to
89 with the 'bus to Stratfield Brake. Joseph Kitsch,
As guard, was in the 'bus. I asked him why
be started without orders ? He mumbled some-
thing which I could not understand. Mr. Griffiths,
the proprietor of the Star Hotel, ordered him some brand
and water, but I could not tell whether he drank it, for I
shut the door and put up the blinds in consequence of the
mud. After the waiter, who brought the brandy and
water, had left the omnibus, I asked -Kluoh how be Ms f
!_e_r_rylied, " Put the break on and go steady." It op
to me that he was not sensible. I remarked tla mg
ter, "I'm blest if Joe ar'nt gone off his head—he's
Jest like old Hughes, who need to be our conductor." (A
laugh.) I took Loch, the guard of the goods' train and •
man, from Bloater to Stratfield Brake. I did net
spook to Kinch after that. We stopped at Beasley% at
einesmertown, where some brandy and water was taken
into the 'bus. At Stratfield Brake I assisted Kinch eatd
the 'bus. He did not speak to me, and he looked is II be
was " staggrified." (A laugh.) I saw no more alie.
By a Juror—My impression was that he did net be
where he was. Whoa he spoke it was in a low tem tha
when he is well and hearty be has a strong voice. We pi
to Stratfield Brake at about half-put eight.
Thomas Camp, surgeon (who made the affirmation re-11
quire& of quaker.), said—l saw Joseph Kinch about hell.
met II 011 Tuesday morning at his own house at Bletehley.
He was in bed. I found him suffering from injuries on
his head, hie left side, his arm, his thigh, and other pans
of the body. He told me that they had Eva late a seal
train. I did nee am anything whatever M Meft -me Mlles!
belief that he was net then emissions of Wait be *a I'
examined his head. There was no serious 'Mensal wooed;
but a man may receive injuries to the head sufficient to dis.
stray life, without any serious external wound whams&
When persons receive serious injuries on the Itesid, Mop
are often insensible for a short time, er they. mg lam
wards forget all they have previously said. It h
entirely to overlook the circumstances under =lit
injuries were received. Here was a men reabag, as it
seemed, upon instantaneous death, and in thin Mies el ex-
citement us which he must then have tom be received •
severe blow on the head. Probably his bead Om ha
contact with the iron rail, for I Omsk • minute
fragment of iron from the slight wound. The injury he
received under these circumstances would probably be more
severe than in an ordinary owe of a blow on the head. I
was not sent for till Tuesday morning, between seven and
eight. In some cases of injury to the head the patient 1
suffers loss of speech, and sometimes an entire loss 011
memory. There are mental states, induced by excitement '
or injury, entirely analogous to those ceased by intoxica- 1
tics. In a work I have in my pocket, a German clergyman
says that, having been led into the court-house where the
tedy of his murdered son was lying, he no longer retained
his consciousness ; and it was only on the following day
that he learned he had delivered a funeral address over the
body.
A Juror—ls that • work of imagination ?
Mr. Camp—Oh ! no. It is the Life of J. W. Berliner, a
German clergyman. Injuries to the head might possibly
cause a person not to know what he was saying, or to forget
afterwards what he had previously said. Of course, I can-
not say what wee the effect upon Loch in the present case
es I did not see him till the next day.
Mr. Jones (a juror)--Some time ago my own son received
II MGM accident at a distant* from home. His 'hull was
it feet fractured. On being asked where he lived, he said
mat Oxford ;" bat he was afterwards perfectly unconscious
a saythihs he had said, sr anything else that had
leenifired.
Wilesee—l mane say whether the blow was severe, he-
lms I dig set see Lath soon enough after the accident ;
tat the symptoms, when I did see him, were such as to
show that his injuries were of a serious character.
' William Todd—l em • painter at the Oxford station of
the Great Western Railway. I went to the some of the
accident, and arrived there • little before 6 o'clock. I saw
some of the company's servants there. I saw Kinch stand-
ing on the line, close to the tender of the second coal en-
gine. lie had his lamp in his band; bat I cunt say
whether it was lighted. I had not bean there more than
two or three minutes before I saw Kitsch. I spoke to him,
and begged him to leave the spot, as he was not in a fit
state to be there. He appeared to be quite delirious.
and not to know what he was talking about. He went on
in a very queer and incoherent manner about his brake and
his van. The first thing I heard him say was, " Where is
my brake ? Where is my van ?" I took him away from
the line to the Robin Wield public-house. Some other per-
son was with me, but I don't know who it was. As we
came along, and when we had got half-way towards the
station, Kinch said, " Poor Jack! I think he must have
mistaken the coal train." lie made no other remark,
except that he was very mush hurt. I met Mr. Slott going
'towards the scene of the accident. He stopped and said
something to Hindi, but I don't recollect what it was. I
don't recollect what answer Kinch made, but I believe he
said something. I left him at the Robin Hood,
and went to get a medical man for him. I could
not find one, and I returned. I was not away more
than four or five minutes. Kinch then appeared to be I
very ill. He was sitting up when I left him. He did not
my anything to me about the cause of the accident. I saw
him put into an omnibus to go te the Oxford-road Station.
The time between my meeting him and getting to the
Robin Hood was about 20 minutes. I advised him
to have some brandy and water, and to stay all night ,•
but he said something about his wife being poorly, and
called out about his bags. From the manner in which he
expressed himself, my impression was that he was not in a
sound state of mind.
Mr. Randall (a juror)—Did you think the publio-house
was a proper place to which to take a man in Kirsch's state ?
Witness—l took him to the first house that I came Ur.

Mr. Readsll—And la the excited and obafersed state in
whisk yea say that he was as the time, you thought it
proper to give him brandy sad water.
Witaese—l did. lam not a doemr. (Repremiam of ap-
probation.)
Kr. Randall—He might have taken the 11111 M to the inn,
where he would have beta taken better OM of. (Hisses
Gas the spectators.)
Withesa—What I did, I did from the best of motives.
The Coroner —Yon did exactly what I should have dose
myself. You took him to the public-boom and gave him
some brandy.
The Foreman, and several of the jury—And so would I.
Witness-1 am sure I acted from the kindest motives, for
I have been very severely injured by accidents myself.
only wish that everybody that went to that accident had
gone with the same motives. (Hear.)
Richard Higgs, a baker, living at Jericho, Oxford, was at
the Robin Hood at the time of the accident, and went to
the spot as soon as he heard what had occurred. Witness
helped to assist the last witness is conveying %inch to the
public-house, mad corroborated his testimony.
William Boehm, the landlord of the Robin Hood, knew
Much very well, and entirely confirmed the two last wit-
nesses. Kinch talked in a childish way, and did not appear
to know what he wee saying. Kutch was at witness's house
about 6 o'cloek with Lacy, Tarry, and Bugden. There was
no quarrelling. Did nut see any beer thrown about. Tarry
and 'Bogdan had each had that day two glasses of beer,
and Kiuch one. They were all quite sober when they lefi
witness's house, which was about ten initiates before the
starting of the 6.30 train.
William Dolly, landlord of Hayfield's Hat, publio-house,
mid—My house is about 300 yards from the sans of the ac-
cident. I heard the collision. I went directly to the spot
as fast as I could run. I got down the bank at the wooden
bridge and on to the line. It was dark at the time. I did
not see any other individual. I did not at first hear a sigh
or a moan. I could see that the engines were upset. The
first thing. I beard was the voice of a boy saying, " Help
me out ! I took hold of a woman but I could not

stir her. Then I pulled out a man, both of whose
lisp were broken. With the assistance of another person
I I.id him on a board, whist' appeared to be the top of
carriage. Neat, we extricated the woman; end soon after
this a light was brought. I then found a man who had
been at my house, who could walk, and I helped him out.
I think that the people came from the station as soon as they
possibly could, fee I should think that not more than six or
, seven minutes elapsed before all the lights Male. I think
that the company's servants exerted themselves to the
Sesnost.
Alderman Browning, of Oxford—l am a director of the
Backs Railway, but we have no interest in the working of
the line, it being leased to the London and North Western
thimpany. I first heard of the accident from one of my own
octants, and I directed him immediately to go for medical
sm. I myself went to the station, but I dont know
lat what time I got there. They were then removing the
caterers to the infirmary. The surgeons were proceeding
' to the infirmary, but I desired some of them to go to the
scene of the accident to see if say one required their mei&
ance. They went in a railway carriage. I remained at the
station. Friends of several of the parties injured requested
telegraph, messages to be despatched and, findingresent
et the wires out of order, I sent to the Oxford-road stadia
le have those message' forwarded from thence. The Met
Ow being crowded I made arrangements with the Univers 1
1 ley polies to have it cleared. Lee, the engine driver, and
Watts, the brakes/nen, came to the station. Lee was quite
earn and collected, and appeated to feel his situation. Al-
most his first observation was, There we six elms, and I
Iss the only one left." 1 questioned him as to the
ease of the accident, and asked him peed.
maul, with regard to his own train. He NM
that there were two engines, but the driver of the first wee
mew to the line, and be (Lee) had the eare of the train.
When he first saw the passenger train looming he did sea
believe that it was the same line ; and it was only whoa
he saw the Are falling from the box that he knew it win es
Shoguns line. He immediately shut of the steam, meadell
the whistle, and, telling the fireman to do the laa
if. The Greet Western and the North Westeransa
_less
parallel At ease distance, end there is no mark4=
be dialsedit the two trains. I have found it
la ilielegobb them even by daylight. Les negalieggi We
dm mob sight, and said that ha had knows the %in of
the two lines brought to a stand at the UM plow •
Smith, the foreman of the North Wallis mighese. lisp&
to explain that circumstance. They wee, masilsg the en .II
gives sometimes with the tender first, and whoa that mss'
'
the awe the tender light (which was red on No side mad
white on the other) showed red, and canoed the Great
Western trains to stop.
Alderman Browning—This is the ealiway in which es
want for the evidenceof the 9reat Western supernurr

ray whohee heft augeshied. I think he was confused at
the tinselly the tubs of the two lima. Lee said to me,
" I cannot think what Tarry amid have besa about."
Neither Lee nor Watts mentioned to me any conversation
they had had with Kineh as to accounting for the accident.
I spoke to Hayes and several of the other porters, and to
the booking clerk ; but not one word of blame was said
that night with respect to Kinch. Not ono of them
ever said that he had started the train, and not
sae of them or of the passengers had heard
his whistle. All the information I could gather
that night was, that Tarry had started without instructions.
Now, I wish to be just to this poor man. I believe that he
mistook the ballast engine for the coal train • and I will
go even further than that : I believe that Kirsch, when the
train started, was himself deceived, though he did not
start the train.
TheFortman.—lt appears to me that you are merely ex-
peeling opinions upon subjects epos which we have our-
selves go (wide.
Aldennea Browning .—I went with Mr. Hope, the
balder, In Mr. Blott's house. Mr. Blatt said that no in
struedeas bad been given to the guard by him to start the
train. He told me that he had seen Ruch, who had ad-
mitted to him that he had received no orders to mart the
troths, and denied that he had, in point of fact, started it.
The Coroner.—Did Mr. Slott tell you that Kinch had
admitted to him that be bad started the train?
Alderman Browning —Certainly not.
Mr. Lacey, jun., was called, but not examined.
Ann Burnham, of Bletchley, mother-in-law of Joseph
Kinch (called by Mr. Thompeon)—l saw my son-in-law
when he first came home on ttie night of tke accident. It
was after eleven o'clock. He was very insensible, sad very
bad. When we salted him anything he answered quite
different. We asked him if anybody was much Mgt, and
he said, " No." We asked him where Tarry was, 11•11
plied, " All right." We bathed his eye, and get him te
bed as soon as we could. We did not fetch a doctor, bat
that was our stupidity. We only should have done. We
gave him nothing to drink but a cap of ma. His wide
hinted when he same in, bat he took no notice of her; Mit
did he notice her when she recovered, Them was aids*
in the hone but a neighbour. I was up most of the night
with him. Hie wife lay down with him. All that it was
onloney Ike no to give him in the night was some tea.
atinstellh, the station-muter, sent for the doctor.
By thee Pereman—Kinch was insensible the whole of the
next day except at times.
Ann Abbott, the neighbour referred to, corroborated the
last witness.
Wm. Coleridge, engine-fitter—l conveyed Kitsch home.
He asked me if I was going home ? I said yes ; and he
took my arm. He lives about 100 yards from the platform
at Bletailey. I asked him how the accident occurred, and
he said he did not know. When we got to his house, Mrs.
Kinch said, " Joe, is that you ? is any body hurt ?" and he
said, " Yes, I am ;" upon which Mrs. Kinch fainted. I
took him In and put him in • chair; and then I came
awa
By.
y Mr. Thompson—l have been sent here by Kr. Wheeler,
a relative of Tarry.
Inspector Inglish was called to prove misconduct oa the
part of Tarry, but his evidence was unanimously rejected
by the coroner and jury. The wheats said that Tarry was
a good man when on duty.
John Bewley, a policeman, proved that the bodies were
found dead within the jurisdiction of the coroner.
Some further evidence having been ging the inquiry
was adjourned till Monday at half put 10.