The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-27 00:00:00

THE COLLISION ON 7HE TVEST MIDLAND

RAILWAY.

EVESHAM, Friday.—fie magistrates sitting in
petty sessions here to-day have been occupied in
investigating a charge made against James Callow
and Daniel Langstone for wilfully, maliciously, or
negligently omitting to see that the line over which
they had superintendence was clear, whereby the
safety of passengers travelling on the line was en-
dangered. This charge arose out of an accident on
the West Midland Railway near this town last
Tuesday evening, when the London express train,
which passes the station at 9 a.m., came into colli-
sion with three goods trucks, which had been left
on the line after the prisoners hod been shunting a
train from a siding. Callow is foreman porter and
signalman at Evesham station, and Langstone is
horse-driver employed to assist in shunting trains.
His age is 17. Mr. Bentley, of Worcester, attended
to conduct the prosecution for the railway company,
and Mr. Eades, of Evesham, defended the prisoners.
The evidence of Henry Crompton, the driver of
the express train from London to Wolverhampton,
on Tuesday night, went to show that on approach-
ing the Evesham station, which the express passes
about 9.10 p.m. without stopping, he found the sig-
nals all right, and ran through the station at about
40 miles an hour. He had got about 200 yards be-
yond the station when he ran into three trucks,
which bad been left on the main line near to a aid-
ing. The trucks were smashed, his engine was dis-
abled, and the lives and limbs of the passengers
were endangered.

Evidence was then given to prove the duties of
the two prisoners. It was Callow's duty to attend
to the signals after 7 o'clock at night. Re acted
as goods porter from 7 a.m. to 7 •—m n
A •, from which
latter hour up to the departure of the last train—
sometimes 11 or half-past 11 at night—he officiated
as signalman. It was his duty to see that the line
was clear and especially when any train was due.
A porter named Marsh assisted in shunting a train
at half-past 7 p.m., and saw the three trucks left
on the main line after one had been removed to be
forwarded to Chipping Norton. Langstone moved
the trucks with the horse, and Marsh last saw him
proceeding with his horse in the direction of the
three trucks left on the main line. It was Lang-
stone's duty to move the trucks from the main line
back to the siding. Mr. Dewsbury, stationmaster,
proved that it was Callow's duty to see that the
line was clear, and, if not, to keep the red light
" danger" up.

Mr. Fades, for the prisoners, cross-examined the
witnesses, with the view of showing that it was
possible for some mischievous person to have re-
moved the trucks from the siding to the main line ;
or that the wind might have moved them had they
not been " blocked" in.
Lindley.
The statements made by the prisoners to Mr.
locomotive superintendent on the West
ithidland Railway, were then proved. Callow stated
theat !ie. saw the three trucks placed back again in
Biding after the shunting, and, finding the " stop,
block" had not been
running back on t placed to prevent the trucks
he
Lan g stone, in
is
Ist main line, he put the block on.
ing the Chipping
ioE:tteotnent, said that after shunt-
trucks back again into utZaFg°l3' he drew the three
whether he had put the st
(Callow) the station, and
say4ol4..lbnig:ttbon:ceionutlhdensottab le,
On going home, after puttinPgki°,,ehit ". afterwards.
-.____. _
he saw the signalman