The Poole Telegram. — 1884-04-11 (Poole, Dorset, England)

YEOVIL. IND FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE SAL, - STATION, A very sad and fatal accident happened on Saturday about mid-day at the Yeovil station, by which a very lte33y, civil, and obliging porter, named Wilma warren, aged 28, has beim deprived of his life. Toe particulars of the melancholy incident were given at its inqmst, which was held at the Mermaid on 3leaday m uning, before W. Muller, E , coroner, sad yof whom Mr. Penny was foreman. One of the jammer-1, Mr. Ripper, failed to put in an appearauco at the appo,nted time, and Mr. Penny, draper, wa4 summoned to serve in his place. Altar the mows hal been called Mr. Ripper entered toe fictel, and wai ordered to be detained. Ha was afteawar,s called in and tAd ny the Coroner that alter vadirg ten minutes another juryman had to be summoned, and it Wdal important that when jurymen Ware summone they should be punctual and not keep the others waitln4.-1-. Ripper expreesed his itgrot awl said he bad been detained by a traveller. The Coroner accepted the explanation and tAd the police officer to summoo Mr. Ripper to appear on another jury to be empanelled that afternoon. The Coroner, ia stating the facts, said they had met to eaquire into a very sad accident which happened on Saturday from circumstancee it was am:nee/oat difficult to understand—whether the deceased lost his presence of mind or what, but he was kuooked down by a passing train and instantaneously killed. On the return of the jury from the cemetery, where the body was lying, the folio wing evidence was _ _  teken : John Herridge, ganger' in the employ of the L. & S.W.R. Cumpiny, said : On Saturday last I was working inside the station, near the inside platform, about 1.30. The deceased came to where I was, but did not speak. He then turned back to the sate near Ito Telegraph Office, and then returned and primed me on the fout•croseing on the other side of the line. I took no further notice of him until I heard a trein coming from the Junction. I heard the driver blowing the whistle as is usual. When the train approached the platform I saw the tender which was Inieg in foremost, strike the deceased. I c inuot say whether he was etauding still or walking. I have kaowu the deceased for .the last twelve years and lad not noti_.ed anything strange in his manner. William Cables, a little by, aged 11 years, add ; I was at tie station on Saturday aiteruuon about one, iba fing near the new footbridge which is beiug ersotsd. I saw the deceased, who was &reseed as a portsr, walk rather slowly across the line. I saw him at y in the middle of the further line, and I saw the train coming from the onection of the Junction. Toe engine was under the Newton-road bridge wheu I sew the deceased. He had his back to me and was looking towards the engine house. I saw the engine strike him. Henry Griffen, engine driver, in the employ of the L. & S. W.R. Company, said : On Saturday last I was driving mute the statou from the ji.iection a goods train. I reached Yeovil at 1,31. I was running tender in front, and as I passed the signal-box, about 40 yards from the platform, I blew the whistle. I did rot see the deceased. John Symonds, stoker of the engine, said : I was shout a hundred yards from the station when I saw the deceased crossing from the platform near the telegraph office. I thought he was going to the middle platform and did not lace any further notice of him. I should not think there would have been time for the deceased to have croseed from one side to the other after the whistle w as blown. The jury expressed a wish that Captain Wilkie, who saw the sad aff air, should be called, and the inquest was adjourned until the afternoon for that purpuee. Mr. Miller, coroner, and a jury, held inquiry at the Mermai I Hotel, on Monday, as to the csive of the death of William Warren foreman porter at the South-Western Station, who was killed by a goods on Saturday, Major \Ville stated that he saw Warren walk across th line an i deliberteely staid in front of the engine. Mr. Maunder, stationmaster, said deceased was a sober, atealy, and trustworthy servant, and he did not think he committed suicide. Dr. Aldri Igo said he had attended,deceased recently for biliousness and giddiness, but he had got better. The j ary returned a verdict of" Accidental death," and expressed the opinion that deceased was seized with giddiness when crossing the line, which paralysed his action,