The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-09 00:00:00

THE TERRIBLE RAILWAY COLLISION AT
KE.VTISH TOWN.-ANOTHER DEATH.

CORONER'S INQUEST. (THIS DAY).
This morning, shortly after 10 o'clock, Mr. Humphrey%
coroner for Red Mildlows (acting for Mr. Weeley,
coroner for the western division), resumed the inquiry
into the cause of this accident, at the St. Pancr.ts Vestry
Hall, Camden Town.

The summoning officer at once announced the death of
Ruahbrook, who died yesterday afternoon at the Unieer.
sty Respite].

Mr. Metcalfe again appeared on behalf of the London and
North Western and the North London Railway Companies,
instructed by Messsrs. J. Carter and G. W. Cleather, of
Great (seorgc-street, Westminster, solicitors to the former
company ; Mr. Brayeres, and other officials of the c•mt.
panies being also present to watch the proceedings.
Mr. Lewis jua. (Lewis and Lewis) again appeared on
behalf of .Mr. English, injured, wife killed, and child in.
jureth. Mr. C. Wilson, of West Hain, on behalf of the
friends of Mrs. Allen, kill Pd. Mr. Hubert Wood, for Mr.
and Mrs. Ramplin, injured. Mr. Wyatt, for the friends of
the widow and friends of the deceased Hills. Mr. Weller,
Philpot-lane, on behalf of Mrs. Ward. injured. Mr. Park
also amain appeared on the part of Rayner, the KeLtish.
town signalman. Colonel Tolland also again attendod
from the Board of Trade.
On the opening of the proceedings,
" '

Mr. Park, addressing the coroner, ',aid he uodentood
there was a Indy on the Kentish-town platform at the tim♦
when the collision occurred whose name was unknown, and
he hoped the press would give publicity to the fact, so that
she might be induced to come forward, u she could give
evidence on behalf of his client.

The Coroner said he had received information of another
death, but ho did not intend to go into that today, as
from the state of other sufferers there might be one or two
wore deaths, so that it might be necessary to go to the
bcepital tomorrow. [The additional death thus anummeed
is that of Benjamin Rushbrook.] There was a statement that
there are three persons missing ;and if the press would give
publicity to this fact, it might be advantageous.
Mr. Grout (who appeared for the Hewitts) said—
This was a mistake. The parties were not missing, but one
of them, Mrs. Kent. is seriously injured internally, and we
cannot say how it may terminate.

. .
The Coroner—l am glad they are not miming, at all
events.

Mr. Metcalfe—You will allow me to make a remark. It
has been stated that attempts have been made by the
three companies to juggle the public and shirk responsibility
I appear fur all three companies—the North Western, thl;
North London, and the North and South Wert Junction—
and I am instructed on their part to say that there will be
no attempt to evade responsibility. The companies will
settle that among themselves, and there will be no evasion
of any claims which anyone may have upon them.

•
The Corouer —I will take care of that as far ea this inquiry
goes

Chas. Freak, Acacia-road, St. John's-wood, gentleman,
was the first witness called. He .aid--On the 2nd Sept.
I was a passenger from the Hampstead-station to Kentish.
town by the 6.30 train from Kew. I think we arrived at
the Kentish-town station at seven minutes past 7. There
was a very evident hurry to get us out of the train at
Kendal-town station, and I had to lift a lady and soma
children out of the train. I wish to add that that train
was most indecently crowded.

Coroner—We do not go into that. Did you notice any.
thing about the shunting,
Witness—When I got down from the station to Conlon-
hcnee-lano I saw an engine, alter giyieg one shriek, go to
the opal station and attach itself to about 20 trucks, and I
was so struck by this, as I had seen what bad been going on
at that station, that I said to two young Ladies who were
there, "This is perfect madness." The engine connected
itself and I went on, and directly after I heard a cry that
the engine had gone over the embankment. 1 ran to the
scene dinctly, and found that the one ue had run into the
ballast train.

Corooer—l don't see that you have told us auything yet
of importanc3 to the inquiry ; did you see anything of the
gifluabl!
Witness—No, I did not.

Coroner—Then I will ask you no more questions.
Rev. Ceo. Allen, incumbent of St. Thomas's, Heming.
ford-road, Islington—l was a passenger in thu o:carrion
train from Kew, with an ordinary ticket. We loft Kew, I
should imagine, about • quarter to 7. I notioed two ar
three violent jerks on the journey both ways, but thought
that was only from crossing the points. We came through
the tunnel apparently at very great speed.
The Coroner—The tunnel is between the Hampstead and
Finchley-road stations
The Witness—Yes. At the time of the accident I felt •
very great jerk, followed by a series of crashes, and when
the carriage 1 was in, which was the fourth, rested, I found
it was hanging over, and with a young friend I climbed out
of the window, and got on to the corner of the bridge where
I mew people standing about and how the carriages were.
By the Coroner—l cannot state bow the accident hap.
paned.

By Mr. Perk—l wu sitting by the window, but did not
notice anything as puling the station.

By a Juror—l heard a whistle, but cannot say which
engine it came from.
Jamcs Morni—l am station mailer at Kew. On the 2nd
ipteniber a regular train left our station at 6.81, its proper
time. She did notcarry any extra tailboard or light. After
that I started the excursion train at about half a minute to
7. It consisted of • tank engine, and twelve carriages—
first and second clams mixed. Scott wee driver, Bolton fire.
men (since dead), and Bridges guard. Scott, I have heard,
is still confined to his bed ; Bolton is dead ; and Bridges
still in the hospital. My instructions with regard to the
excursion trains were in writing, and I now produce them.
The Coroner read the paper handed in. It stated that
excursion truism would leave Bow for Kew no Monday, the
find inst., times uncertain, but that the lint might be ex-
pected to leave at 9.30 a.m, and that the train., would re-
turn in the evening from 8 to 9.30, and might be expected
to arrive (blank). It was signed, "flitch."
Coroner—As the instruction stated that the trains would
leave Kew from 8 to 9.30 p.m. wall you explain why you
started one at 7!

Witness—On amount of the pressure of people arriving.
I gave instructions to the gnus' to stop at the Edgeware-
road to put down some excursionuna there, there being
excursions front Filgeware•road and Kim/eland that day as
well u from Bow ; and it was on the Ealgeware.road tickets
that the train was to return at 7 o'clock.

Covouer—Have you one of them tickets!
Witnem—No. I have not.
Corooer—Well, did you tell the guard he was starting
before hie time?

Witness—Yen; I think I told him be Inn an hour before
Lis time. . . .

I Coroner—Did you telegraph to the other stations!
Witness-1 have no telegraph.
Coroner—Did you communicate with the up lines?
Witness—l have no communicatiou ; but I felt perfectly
safe, as 1 knew there was nothing to follow till 1 started
myself, and at that hour the line is always clear of ail
other traffic between me and Willesileo. I knew nothing
about the state of the line above Willesden. lam in the
employ of the North and Su•tth West Junction. The
first telegraph station is at the Willesden Junc-
tion. 1 have been in the employ of the two
companies for 11 years, and have been four years at Kew.
I started the next train at 7.40. It was an onlinstry
and the next excursion train dial not start till 10.45, having
got information of the accident about a quarter of an hour
before from the driver of a special train of empties that
came down for excursionist.. The guard of the excursion
train which I started at 7 o'clock, I told, I believe, that he
was an hour before his time ; but I took no other meetly of
giving that information—it is not customary for me to do so.
Coroner—ls it usual for you to start trams contrary to
your instructions!
Witueiei—That depend. upon circumstances—upon the
influx of passengers ou Sundays and Mondays, our busiest
days.
by Mr. Park—lf the excursion train took only seven
minute* to get to Kentish-town, it wail an extraordivary
rate of speed. As a general rule, we do not affix tail-
boards. It is only done in cams of emergency, and 1 was
not certain of starting an excursion train before the next
ordinary train in this instance. The break vuu of the ex-
cursion train was open in front, but I did not notice
that the guard had any friends iu the van with him. We
sometimes put other people in the break-van when the train
is over full.

By Mr. Lewis—l gave the guard no instructions as to
time. He saw the start of the regular train, as his train
was in the ',Wing at the moment. I have no knowledge of
trains on the line. I know that they hare paaienger
trains, but ballast trains I know nothing about. The
number of trains I had to start between eight
and balf•pset line, according to my instructions,
would depend upon the number of passengers, em the ex-
cursionista bad the privilege of returning by the ordinary
trains from a ticket belonging to the Edgware-mad Excursion,
which was called the " Drum and Fife Band," on which it
Was stated. "To return at 7 o'clock," but we have no 7
o'clock train. The tickets wore issued, not by the oompaoT,
lint by the parties who got up the excursion. Mr. Hitch is
Hr. Chubb's assistant, Mr. Chubb being 'monthly to the
North London.
Be Mr. Grout—l think the distance front New to See•
tisli.Town is right miles, and the train leering the former