Widnes Examiner. — 1885-08-22 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

EXTRAORDINA RY SUICIDE ON THE RAILWAY. On Thursday morning, Mr. S. Brighouse, coroner, held an inquest at the Railway Ilbtel, St. Helens Junction, touching the death of Joseph Webster, a labourer, residing at 2, Rolling Mill-lane, Sutton, who met with his death on the railway on Monday night. Mr. Ferrand was present on behalf of the railway company.—Agnes Woodcock said deceased, was her brother, and was a labourer at Rolling Mill copper works, Sutton. Ile was 57 years of age.— James Lucas said: I am stationmaster at St. Helens Junction. I knew the deceased by sight before Monday night. I saw him on Monday night about 20 minutes past seven. He was on the "up" platform (to Manchester) when the express from Liverpool was signalled, and he got up from a form and. walked towards the edge of the platform. He seemed to be stumbling forward as he was very drunk, and I called out to him to stand back. A. passenger pulled him back on the platform while the express passed. I afterwards attended to the " down " express and then saw the deceased walking down the -sidings towards the cabin. He had no right to be there and I called to porter Taylor to fetch him back. He was removed into the station road. He was removed from the station about 7-27, and at 4ht o'clock breaksman Renton came and. told me that they had knocked a man down. I sent for the doctor and a "stretcher," and I went to the man. He was lying clear of the line, on the "slope,". about 250 yards from the station. Breaksman Renton was in charge of a goods train from St. Helens Junction to WinsforcL—Robert Grice, a lad, residing at Grape's Cottages, said: I saw him get over the sleepers of the line, and he fell down from the sleepers. When he got down he ran and "popped" ' his head on the rails. I was on the sleepers and I then fainted and fell off the sleepers. I afterwards I ran and told several women.—William Handles, 1 engine driver, said: At live minutes to eight o'clock on Monday night I started with a goods train from St. Helens Junction to Winsford. I saw the deceased about 50 yards ahead. He ran to the rails and got down, after which he turned over on his back and deliberately nestled his neck on toe rail, stretching out his arms. I then whistled and reversed the engine, but the " life guard " of the engine struck him and dragged him about 50 yards. All his clothes were stripped from him. I got down from the engine, and found he was quite dead. We were going from 18 to 20 miles an hour.—P.S. Sheriff and Thomas Ingleby, with whom the deceased. lodged, gave evidence to the effect that a neighbour named Price on Monday morning lodged corn, it had d indecently withther di police the effect that ts to p grandchildi a girl about four years of age. It was said a warrant was to be issued for his apprehension. Mr. Swift, solicitor, was consulted about the ' matter. Up to Monday he always seemed to be in his 'right mind.—The Coroner, in summing up, said he thought there was no criminal negligence attaching to anyone, and there was little doubt the deceasel took his own life. That was shown by the evidence. and if the witnesses were to be believed he h good reason for it. He was charged with a very serious offence, and after rambling about the district he got intoxicated and then deliberately placed his head on the line. The question for the jury to consider was had the deceased a sufficient degree of reason to know that he was doing wrong, and if they believed he had that they must say that he feloniously killed himself, or a verdict of felo tie se' If they believed the deceased did not • know what he was doing, then the jury must return a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane. 'But they had no evidence that the deceased had been insane.—The Foreman observed that it lookedexcit great ._tAhe djeurocearluweasseesuffmeoierintgo be 01 his "chump" all morning.—The Coroner: There is no emasenitf evidence of that.—The jury subsequently considered their verdict in private for two minutes. They then called the Coroner and the reporters into the room, and the Foreman said: We are agreed that he deliberately put himself on the line for the purpose of taking away his life.—The Coroner said that that that was a verdict of file de se. or that the deceased did feloniously kill himself.—The jury said that was so.  At the London Mansion House, on Thursday, Mr. Gordon Pentecrass Whitworth, at one time of ralollington, 10 Cheshire, was committed for trial rn the charge of forejog a certificate for £3OO of London and North-Western Railway stock. RAILWAY ACCIDENT —Oa Thursday evening 3 passenger train from Manchester to Nor hwich, when enterma Knot,ford Station. ran into the rear of a goods train which had been shunted on to the line and was nor protec.,d by signal. Some passengers were mucb.abaken.and the line was blocked for several hours. AN UNTOWARD INcIDENT.—Lord Carnarvon had a dis. • agreeable experience St Westport on Thursday. It appear, to be the custom for a new Lord Lieutenant to receive cern-9 nature, for pvliisme. he fashionntaTryaddresse w s from thefollowed p e üblit ebodiesin tit.ie town, he its Westport, -at the cerewhen ny awnaesdsdbreoeren forfoimn ucthbeofßitosa,cdornopfliGmuentri tltans had been presented a person stepped forward and " assuptpd 17 his lordship that no such address had been adopted Li e u.'t3re /itah4 Bi no atrhde. The question was argued before the Lord public street amid cheers and counter cheers. WHOLESALE Sieve...ouOn Saturday afternoon a ree markably ingenious case of smuggling was brought to light at Hull. The Elizabeth (steamer), from Itlaratex,g, was being discharged, when the workmen, in lifting what appeared to be several balks of timber, jammed one against the combings of the hatchway. The end of the supposed balk 1I"t• indented, and the Customs officer found that it was hollow. Examination showed that the vibole of tbe balks, eight or nine, were also hollow, and were filled sith tobacco and cigars estimated to weigh several tons. The balks were consigned to the owners of the ship for consignment to Leeds.