The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-17 00:00:00

Did you hear him say anything as to the boat train being
due that afternoon 2—l heardhim say—at breakfast time, I
think—that it was due at 5 20. He was then looking at the
general service time-book. John Dawson had another book,
but it was no use, having been partially destroyed. Benge
can read moderately well. I have several times heard him
reading his Bible at dinner and other meal times. I cannot
say whether any fog signals had been used. Mr. Gallimore
the district inspector, frequently came, but I have not been
present when he gave instructions as to the work to be
done.

By the Rev. Mr. Moore, foreman of the jury—It is no
part of our work to know whether fog signalsare sent back
in fine weather. It is always the practice to send back a
signalman when the rails are interfered with.
By another Juror—The foreman looked at his book beforo
the rails were moved. lam accustomed to see the signal-
men sent back, and I think he went back about the usual
distance. Whiles pointed out the spot where he was stand-
ing. I think we measured the distance on Monday.
By Mr. Vining—The timber we removed was the support
of the outer rail. It was necessary to take out the inner
timber of the rail to replace the new one. The outer tim-
ber lay on the ballast, and beyond the girder. The next
piece did not span the opening by eight or ten feet. We
were not above ten minutes taking out the timber, and we
had the new piece ready to put in, and it is there now.
The signalman was sent back to signal anything that might
come, but not for the boat train. He did not return before
the boat train.

By Mr. Abrahams—Benge spoke about the boat train
being due at 5.20 at breakfast time on Friday morning be-
tween nine and ten. The men tere talking about the time
different trains were duo, and spoke of the boat train as the
chief one they had to look after.

By Mr. Freeland—There is a crossing which enabled me
to tell where the signalman was. It is called Sloman's
crossing, and I believe it was beyond that.

By a Juror—lt would take from ten minutes to half an
hour to have the timber put in. Half an hour would be the
extreme time.

By the Coroner—l am speaking of making the line pass-
able again—replacing the timber and the rails.
By Capt. Osborne (a juror)—l have not got any book of
instructions.

William Allen, a platelayer in the service of the com-
pany for nearly three years, deposed that he knew Benge,
who was a very steady man. Witness thought they had
been at work for some months at the two bridges—the
Stanley viaduct and the big viaduct. The big viaduct was
where the train was upset. They began to work at six
o'clock, and kept on till breakfast time. He did not hear
any consultation about the boat train at breakfast time.
Coleman, the last witness, sat near—next but one on wit-
ness's right hand. Could not call to mind that Benge re-
ferred to the time-table, nor say whether any question
was put as to when the boat train was due. Witness did
not know when to expect the train. As soon as the train
(2.50 up) passed they all commenced taking up the
rails. Benge directed the operations. The signalman
was started away before the 2.50 train, and went be-
low, and crossed at Mr. Sloman's farm. When witness
first saw the train he should say it was a mile off.

By Capt. Usbome (a juror)—l did not see any difference
in the speed when the train came on to the bridge. It was
the ordinary speed of the tidal train.
By the Foreman of the Jury—A signalman is not sent
back when they are taking out a key or anything of that
sort. Witness heard Benge say something about " mistook
the train" after the accident.

By Mr. Abrahams—On that bridge the train is visible
when it gets to Headoorn.
By Mr. Vining—The men all ran towards the train,
trying to warn them, but he (witness) did not think any of
them got more than thirty yards before the train was up
to them and over.

By Mr. Steele (solicitor, of Bloomsbury-square, who ap-
peared for Major Francis)—The job they were about would
have taken an hour and a quarter, perhaps; but some tim-
bers are got out much easier than others. Witness heard
a long continuous whistle, which lasted till the train went
over.

By Mr. Freeland—Witness was not a carpenter, and could
not tell how long the timber work would take to do.
By a Juror—The line was sometimes broken twice or
three times a day, and that day twice before the occurrence
they were inquiring into.
Ry Mr. Minter, jun. (who appeared for Benge and Mr.
Gillamore, the district inspector of the line)—The train was
up to them very soon. Witness did not hoar any one say
" Good God, she's past the signal," as far as he could
recollect. Ile could not say whether they began to run
before the train passed the signal.
By Capt. Usborne—When witness saw the train a mile
off, he thought it would stop ; but it appeared almost di-
rectly to be "coming at such a stroke" that they were
frightened, and got out of the road. It was hardlya minute
before the train was on to them.
John Dawson said—l am a carpenter in the engineer's
department of the South-Eastern Railway Company, and
leading hand of a gang. We have been working with
Benge's gang for about ten weeks, between Staplehurst
and Headcorn. We have been new timbering the two
viaducts during the whole of that time. It took about an
hour to get an old timber out and make the rail good again.
On Friday last we had broken the rail twice and made it
good again. The first time after the 7.20 train from Dover,
and the "pick-up" passed at 11. The line was broken