The Haslingden Gazette. — 1913-09-13 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

TERRIBLE SEASIDE TRAGEDY  HEAD UNDER CAR.  A sensation was, caused on Southport Pier on Monday afternoon, when Albert Turner, aged 47, shoo factor, of 28, 131ackburn-road, Aocrington, was killed on the electric railway which runs the whole length of the pier. A oar laden With visitors was proceeding along the pier at a speed of 12 milec an hour when the driver saw a man climb over the railings, and throw himself on the metals ir. front of the car. The driver had no chance ie.. pull up, and Turner was practically decapitated. Mr. Turner had been staying. at an address on the Promenade. Mr. Turner was a widower, his wife having di2d about three months ago. The sad event had a deep effect upon the bereaved husband, who felt his loss most Lieenly. lie had been staying at a nursing home at Southport, and was expected home on Saturday or Sunday. He leaves two children, a aughter about seventeen, and a son about fourteen.  • The news of Mr. Turner's terrible end came as a great shock to many 'friends in Accrington.  THE INQUEST  At Southport Town Hall or. Tuesday afternoon nr. S. Brighouse, County Coroner, held an inquest into the sad and tragic event  Alfred Turner, 37, Furness-road, Fallowfield, Manchester, said, the deceased was. his bather. About three months ago deceased's wife died suddenly, and since then he had been very depressed at tithes, and never seemed to get over it.. He had been attended by Dr. Watson, of Accrington, for insomnia. On Wednesday last he came to witness's house, but did nit sleep daring the night, and asked witness to take him to a nursing home, as he feared a nervous breakdown. Witness accordingly took him to Miss Hall's nursing home, Southport, and left him there. Later ha heard *Prom the home that he had not been so well, and came over on Monday with a view to making other arrangements, ana then heard that. he had been killed on the Pier. He had never threatened to take away his life.' He was medically, &tended On !Monday week, and up to hi:; coming to Southport was quite rational, although he had a presentiment , that he would have a nerveus breakdown. He wished to go iato a 'home for the sake of his children.  Florence Jessie Mason said she was a nurse at Miss Hall's nursing home, 23, The iPromenade. Deceased came to the house on Thursday, and Dr. Littler attended him on admission. On Friday and Saturday he seemed al little more cheerful, but on Sunday he seemed very depressed, and was difficult to manage. Dr. Littler saw him, and advised her to communicate with his brother and ask him to come and make other arrangements. She always accompaaled him on his walks, and on Monday went on The Pier with him. On returning towards  the Promenade about one o'clock witness was walking next to the rails dividing the tram track Irani the Promenade deck, and when the car, coming from the Pier entrance, had got. within a few yards of them deceased, without any warning, threw himself over the railings en to the line, and the car passed over him, killing him on the spot. Witness maid() a grab at him, but could not pre-Vent him going over the rails. During the morning he had been more depressed than usual. With the doctor's permission, witness took him to a barber's shop in Nevin-street, where he had a shave. Witness told the barber to be watchful, as he was very  funny. Witness kept dose watch. on all his movements while on tile Pier, as he kept stopping, and was very morose.  In, reply to the Coroner, 'Witness said she did not krtow whether the house was certified by the Lunacy Conuniwioners.  William Lowe, the driver of the car, said he was going at the rate of about 12 miles an hour when he saw the deceased climb over the rails just in front of the first car. He just caught sight of the man's head before the, car knocked him down and was over him. Witness put on the electric bralce, pulled up, and found deceased dead, lying between the metals. He covered p the body, and communicated with the police. Witness had been a driver on the oar for nineteen years, and had never had an accident before.  P.C. Arnott said he want down the Pier on Monday afternoon about 1-15 with the ambulance, and about half way down found _deceased lying between the metals: His head was almost severed and the face much mutilated. Death must haver been instantaneous. On examining deceased's clothing at the mortuary, he found a pica, of paper on which there was some writing apparently by the deceased "If anything happens I appoint Mr. -." Mr. T. E. Williams, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the Pier Company, and expressed the sympathy of the directors with the deceased's family. In reply to the Coroner he said the cars had been running on the Pier for about 45 years. To the 'beffb of his belief tlere 1-sad been no previous fatality.  A ;erdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane" was returned, and thc- jury completely exonerated the nurse .from any blame.  The Union Castle liner Durham Castle was atopped at sea by wireless and received one of the engineers of )he White Star liner Topic, who had injured an eye. Ile was landed at Plymouth.