The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-08 00:00:00

TIIE LATB ACCIDENT ON THB GREAT!

NORTHERN RAIL it E

The adjourned inquiry into the circumstance,.
atteudina the catastrophe which happened at the Hume,
station of the (ireat Northern Railway on Wednesday, the
31st ult., took place yesterday be'ore Mr. Tyrwitt, at the
Clerkenwell Police Court, when Richard Partington,
engine driver, and Joseph Woods, stoker, were brought up
for further nomination, charged with negligently driving
the expres. train, to which the accident in question cc•
cuffed.

Mr. Clarkson again appeared on bchalf of the Great
Northam Railway Company, attended by Mr. Mowatt, the
secretary, and several other gentlemen officially connected
with the establishment.

Mr. Rawlings attended on behalf of the defenii:Ets.
&vital vitae@ As were examined. Their evidence MA.
of a similar character to that previously adduced.
Mr. A. Sturrock, locomotive engineer on the Greet
Northern Railway—He knew the distance signal of the
Hormel station on the London side. It was 534 yards from
the aistance signal to the station signal. It WAS about 130
yards from the station signal to the point where the col-
li•ien took place. The distance signal could be seen by an
ordinary sized man at a distance of 510 yards before
reaAing it. That would make, to the point of collision,
1,174 yards. An engine driver could bring his engine up
before getting to the station, if he observed the distance
danger signal—that was to say if the train were travelling
at the rate of the express train. The train could be stopped
within about 800 yards, as the rails were on this particular
occasion. The rails were dry, as the day was flue.
Cruse-examined—He had had considerable experience.
He hail often driven engines. He had frequently seen trains
go put the station, notwithstanding the danger signals
were up. Sometimes the signals are put up merely
to stop a passenger. There was a severe gradient of 1 in
200, inclining towards Homey. The number of breaks made
• great difference in the time of stopping a train. The
number of guards, whether inside or outside, made a dif-
ference. A guard will immediately obey the signal given by
the engine-driver. This signal was three sharp beats of the
whistle. He knew the fireman of this express train. He
had been fireman on this line a very short time. He had
recently been employed in the sheds of the company, and
not as fireman at all. It was necessary for a driver to have
a fireman who understood his business. This would not
apply more strongly to the driver of au exprem train. It
was possible for an inefficient man to attend to the fires
very improperly, and in that case greater care and caution
would be required of the engine driver. If the fireman
should put the coke too near the tubes instead of in the
corners there would not be so mach steam, as the
draft would be impeded. It was a very common thing
to remove firemen if they did not agree with the driver, as
the firemen were completely subordinate to the driver. The
coal truck in question was due in the morning, but was de-
layed by the piston breaking at Colney Hatch. The cause
of the ,ccident to the tender was unexplained up to the pre-
sent time. There had been one or two accidents at Horrisey
station before.

Re-examined—He had never had any complaint respect-
ing the fireman in question. Woods was perfectly capable
of acting in that capacity for ho was an old fireman from
the London and North Western line previous to his working
in the sheds of the Great Northern.

Robert Strickland raid be war the head guard of the ex-
press down-train on the day in question. lie was aware of
the 60th rule, which enjoined the application of the breaks
by the guard immediately on the alarm being given by the
driver. lie heard no signal of that kind given by the
driver of the express between King's-cross and the point of
the collision. There was a whistle at the platform, but that
was the only one be heard. There were three breaks in
the train braider the engine break, and he. thought the
train was going at a rate of between 30 and 40 miles as
they went into the Homey station. lie did nut notice any
slackening of the speed until the moment of the
The day was Sae. lie was • little hurt in the hand by
jumping off the train. The collision took place as soon as
he jumped, and it weeny.r before he got us. The collision,
the whistle, and his jumping off, were all about simul-
taneous.

Cross-examined—He did not keep a look out before they
reached Hornsey station, and he did not ober rve any signal
before the collision. Between London and Hornsey he was
engaged sorting his letters and pared.. That was the rea-
son
why he was not keeping a look-out. He had applied'
the breaks before he jumped out. It was exactly one
minute past five o'clock by his watch when they left
King's-crass. He had been several months a guard of the
express train ' • but he had not been employed on that train
for a month before the accident, except for one journey.
The express usuall passed Horusey station eight or ten
minutes past five, according as they left King's-cross.
lie-examined—He was not above a yard from the break,
and could put it on immediately he heard any signal. He
applied the break before he jumped off; but, seeing it was
useless, he jumped in order to save himself. Putting on
the break was all he could do towards stopping the tram.
The case for the prosecution having been brought to •
close,
Mr. Clarkson said it would now be for the magistrate to
take what course he might think fit. The young woman,
Mrs. Harrison, however, was still in a dangerous state, and it
was just possible that the result of the injuries she had
sustained might be such as to necessitate a graver investi-
gation of the matter, though he earnestly hoped the case
would turn out otherwise. _ _

Mr. Rawlings said, if it was to be understood that the
evidence against the defendants was now brought to a con-
elision, it would be his duty to address such observations
to the bench on their behalf as he thought necessary; but
he wished, is the first instance, to know whether it was
the intention of the bench to deal summarily with the ease.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said he was very much in the hands of the
counsel on both sides; but he thought, considering the
present state of Mrs. Harrison, a single magistrate would act
in a very great hurry indeed if he were to close the case in
its present shape that day, as something might happen
which would bring it under consideration in another form.
Mr. Rawlings had a perfect right to comment upon the
evidence that had been adduced, and he should be happy to
hear him either on that or any subsequent day ; but Pond-
deriag the present condition of Mrs. Harrison, he thought
it would be prudent to adjourn the inquiry for the present.
Of course in the event of anything serious happening to that
lady, Mr. Rawlings would have a perfect right to have all
the evidence taken over again es hay fresh charge which
might then be brought agaimet Ms defendants.
Mr. Rawlings said he did set wish to address the bench
on behalf of the defendantkushes the magistrate intended
to decide the case on this oessisim
Mr. Tyrwhltt raid that so i tie could do so, con-
sidering the premien. onaiM of Mrs. Harrison. He
thought the OM V. one that should ge before a judge and
hury, seppeslini ewes that nothing Ewe serious were to
appen tees hely in question; Is, the growing frequency
of soollooto of this kind rendered it in the highest degree
necessary for the public advantage that they should be in-
vestigated before a superior tribunal.
Mr. Rawlings observed that the question wee whether
hie clients were really the parties who ought to be sent
before a jury at all.
Mr. Tyrwhitt—lf you ask me whether there is evidence
to go to a jury, I certainly think there is ; but I have not
the slightest idea of dealing with the case itself.
The inquiry wm then adjourned to a future day, in
order that the result of the injuries received by Mn.Raz-
rison may be ascertained.