The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 13, 1858.

good as it had been. It was about 3 feet 5 inches high,
and witness did not think that was sufficient-to-Ant in
cattle in their ordinary state.
By Mr. Cleather—l never gave information to this
effect to any person belonging to the railway company.
George Baker, the elder, father of the last witness,
said he saw the cow in his son's field about nine o'clock
on Monday morning, and again about a quarter-past 10;
and the next time be saw her she was " all to pieces,"
strewed about the railway. After the accident witness
walked up and down his son's field by the side of the
hedge, but could trace no footmarks of the cow to show
where she got over, and he did not believe she did get
on to the railway out of that field. There was a gap in
one corner opening on to another persons land, from
which the cow might have passed on to the railway
through a gate, if it had been accidentally left open.
This witness identified the Rev. Mr. Miller as one of
the persons whom he saw dead after the accident. He
heard the unfortunate man exclaim, " I'm so faint," and
immediately he expired.
Mr. E I ward Mason, surgeon of Nuneaton, proved
having been summoned to the scene of the accident by
the station master at Nuneaton in order to attend the
wounded. He travelled to the spot on the engine of the
disabled train, and rendered all the assistance in his
power to the wounded. He saw the dead bodies of the
three gentlemen who had been viewed by the jury, but,
not having made any examination, was unable to speak
as to the cause of death.
Mr. Thos. Skeffington Bourne, surgeon, of Nuneaton,
proved having also been summoned to the spot by
the Nuneaton station-master. After seeing to the
relief of the wounded, witness directed the removal of
the bodies of the deceased persons to the place where
they were now lying. Witness, having ob'ained the
verbal instructions of the coroner, had since made a post-
mortem examination of one of the bodies—that of Mr.
Morgan, who had evidently died from pressure across
his loins and chest preventing respiration. In this case
there were no fractured bones. Witness was in the act
of examining the body of the Rev. Mr. Miller, when he
was interrupted by Mr. Girdwoad, who complained
that his feelings were outraged by such an act, and
would not allow him to proceed. On appealing to the
coroner, that gentleman had informed witness that under
the circumstances he did not think it would be necessary
to put the county to the expense of a post-mortem exa-
mination. He had, therefore, desisted from doing more,
and was unable to describe the cause of death in two
cases. What he had done was for the purpose of afford-
ing the jury that information which he thought they
would require, and he hoped he need not a=sure Mr.
Gird wood that he had no intention whatever of causing
pain to any person.
The foreman said the jury were of opinion that Mr.
Bourne was entirely exonerated from any blame what-
ever in the matter.

James Eigar, conductor of the train, who was too
unwell to be examined yesterday, was next called. He
said when the train arrived within about a mile and a
half of Nuneaton station be heard the engine driver's
whistlP, and put on his break directly. The crash fol-
lowed instantaneously. Witness saw the gatekeeper
waving his red flag as the train ran past him. He saw
nothing to occasion the accident. There were four breaks
attached to the train, and all of them were applied be-
fore the accident happened.
Mr. Bruyeres sail this was the officer who received
the Rev. Mr. Miller's property, which had been handed
to Mr. Gird wood yesterday.
Edgar, on being questioned, said he knew nothing of
an insurance ticket being found upon Mr. Miller, nor
had be any knowledge of his having held one.
By Mr. Moordaff—l have been a conductor of trains
for four years, and I consider it proper on all occasions
to apply the breaks when a danger signal is exhibited.
Joseph \Vagstall, tailir, of Attleborougb, proved
having seen the cow in the field adjoining the railway,
restless and bellowing, some time before the accident.
Witness also saw the gatekeeper outside his bcx a quar-
ter of an hour before the cow got on the l►ne. He
assisted in extricating the wounded persons. A screw-
jack which he obtained from the engine was used for
this purpose, and horses were attached to portions of
the wreck to pull them off some of the sufferers.
Ths inquiry, having now lasted six hours, was ad-
journed until Monday next, when it is understood
further evidence will be forthcoming as to the state of
Ithe fence before the accident.

Mr. W. H. Seymour is the coroner who is conducting
the inquiry.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

S r.—Your account this morning of the accident 'on
the Trent Valley Railway suggests the importance of
providing railway engines in use in this country with
guards similar to those employed in A merica. It often
occurs in America that cattle straying upon the line are
run into by the engines, but it is seldom that any acci-
dent results, because the engines there are furnished with
a guard which extends forward in an inclined plane in
front, and, as it were, picks up any animal in the way
and throws it off t) one side. Of course. the shock
occasioned by doing this is little or none, but without
such a guard the mangled remains of the animal, as
occurred in the accident you rep .rt, are likely to get
under the engine, and, acting as a drag, so far to impede
its course as to cause a serious shock to the train.

A drawing of the kind of guard I refer to may be seen
in the 11A number of the Illustrated London News.

I am, Sir, your obed►ent servant,
May 12.