The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-10 00:00:00

The Railway Accident at Egham,

EORAM, Thursday Night.
This afternoon at 3 o'clock, Mr Woods, the coroner for
the western division of the county of Surrey, opened an
investigation at the Railway Inn, in this town, into the
circumstances attending the death of Richard Wilkie,
Edwin nail, Joseph Clegg, William Winfield, and John
Coppard, who were killed by the larnentaLle catastrophe
which oeourrod on Tuets,iny tivening dining the running of
the return trains from the Ascot races.

The investigation created a great amount of excitement,
and in consequence of the va.:t number of persons who
attended it was found necessary to 'adjourn the inquiry to
the leading-rooms.

Mr L. Crombie and Mr L. Clark attended on behalf of
the London and South-Wcrtern. Railway ; and Mr Chubb
(of the firm of Dean, Chubb, and Saunders, of South-square,
Gray's-inn), represented the widow of Mr Kali , Mr
Robinson (Robinson and Tomlin), appeared for the relatives
of Joseph Clegg ; and Mr Edward Newman represented the
widow and friends of Mr R. 'Wilkie.
A jury of 15, having been sworn, proceeded to the coach-
house of the Railway Inn, where the remains of the unfor-
tunate deceased, Wilkie, Hall, Clegg, and Coppard, lay in
coffins, while those of Winfield were uncoffined. The de-
ceased Hall had both his legs completely severed from his
body, while the body itself was lacerated in a most fright-
ful manner; Joseph Clegg had his back broken, and his
body fearfully cut about; Richard Wilkie had frightful
concussions on the head, concussion of the brain, and his
right arm literally torn from the shoulder; the arms of John
Coppard were broken and his body severely contused, The
principal injury to William Winfield was his right hand
being torn off at the wrist. More or less the bodies pre-
sented a sickening and ghastly appearance.
The Coroner having severally sworn the jurymen, pro-
ceeded to say he was quite sure the jury would carefully
investigate the cause of the fearful calamity which had hap.,
pened, involving the deaths of no lees than five individuals
and serious injury to several others, two especially, one of
whom was lying in the neighbourhood in a very precarious
state, and another in one of the London hospitals. Ile Was
quite sure they would feel with deep sorrow and regret the
very painful task they had before them. kle had been told
the deaths had resulted in consequence of a collision of two
trains at the Egham station. Various rumours had reached
him, which he of course discarded, and he attended as
coroner quite unprejudiced and to act impartially to all, as
he trusted they (the jury) would do. The railway company
and their employes, on exceptional occasions, like those of
the Ascot races, had necessarily imposed upon them most
onerous, anxious, and responsible duties, and the public had
a right on all occasions, exceptional or otherwise, to be
satisfied that the most ample precautions were resorted to
for insuring their safety. Upon the present occasion he did
not purpose going into general evidence, but he thought it
right to assemble the jury on the earliest possible opportu-
nity that the bodies might be delivered up to their friends

for interment. As it would be necessary to adjourn_ the
investigation, all he then proposed to do was to have the
bodies identified, in order that he might issue his warrant
for their removal.

The jury having viewed the bodies, the first witness called
was,

Edward Booker, of Steward's-place, King's-road, Chelsea,
corpenter and builder. He said—l have seen the dead
bodies, and I identify amongst them that of Robert Wilkie,
He was a publican, and resided at 25, Wellington-row,
Chelsea, and kept the Globe Tavern. He was about 51
years of age.
James Pattison said—l live in Stratford-mews. lam a
jobmaster. I have seen the dead bodies, and I identify
that of Edwin Hall, who is my brother-in-law. He was a
corn merchant, residing in Duke-street, Manchester-square.
wasanlo
rac.asusuea tavern_r
eo,f
He was about 40 years old.
Robert Cross, M.D., 20, New-street, SPring-gardens--.
au Josephsncter.
Mount-street,
Grosvenor-square,
ocswvtue.
keeper, living at 19, Jermyn-street. He was about 65
I identify the body of Mrtmo
years of age. I know nothing of . the circumstances by
which he came to his death, nor have I had an opportunity
servant—I identify the body of William
death.
jeathxmam.esinDinewg:ueryb:Bd63:
B Winfield. He
was a bailiff in the employ of Mr Henry raeebridge, at
gherbourne, near Warwick. He Nvs, about 49 years of
ge.
_..

Sussex, said—l identify
Thomas Coppard, of lientioid,
the dead body of ray brother John, who was about 58 years
of age. He was a clerk to Mr Padwick, of Hill-street,
Berkeley-square.
The Coroner and Jury then consulted, and ultimately it
was arranged that the inquiry should be adjourned for the
production of evidence with regard to the signals and other
special arrangements for the traffic during the Ascot
races.

Mr Crombie specially intimated to the coroner that. the
company were anxious that every facility shenli be off,lrled
for the ftAllest investigation of the caso.

The number of emigrants who embarked at Havre
during May was 2,352, of whom 2,293 went to New York,
28 to Rio de la Plata, three to San Francisco, and 28 to
Shanghai.
THE FRENCH EMPEROR'S NEW STAELES.—'The
Emperor's new stables near the Pont de l'Alma, on the left
bank of the Seine, being completely terminated, the old
ones in the Rue Montaigne, which have been purchased by
the City of Faris, will be pulled down almost immediately,
and the site sold for building ground, The materials of the
constructions will be offered for sale by auction on the 13th
inst. at the upset price of 20,0001,