Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1884-04-11 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

YEOVIL.  --SAD AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE STATION.  A very sad and fatal accident happened on Saturday about mid-day at the Yeovil station, by which a very steady, civil, and obliging porter, named William Warren, aged 28, has been deprived of hie life. The particulars of the melancholy incident were given at the inquest, which was held at the Mermaid ou Mondny morning, before W. Muller, E-q , °owner, and a jury of whom Mr. Penny was foreman. One of the jurymen, Mr. Ripper, failed to put in an appearance at the appointed time, sod Mr. Penny, draper, was summoned to serve in his place. Alter the names had been, called Mr. Ripper entered the Hotel, and was ordered to be detained. He was afterwards Ogled in and told by the Coroner that alter waiting ten minutes another juryman had to be summoned, and it was important that when jurymen were summoned they should be punctual and not keep the others waiting.—Mr. Ripper expreseed his regret and said he had been detained by a traveller. The Coroner accepted the explanation and t aid the police officer to summon Mr. Ripper to appear on another jury to be empanelled that afternoon. The Coroner, in stating toe facts, said they had met to enquire into a very sad accident which happened on Saturday from circumstances it was ow:newest difficult to understand—whether the deceased lost his presence of mind or what, but he was knocked down by a passing train and instantaneously killed. On the return of the jury from the cemetery, where the body was lying, the following evidence was  taken:— • John Herridge, ganger' in the employ of the L. & S.W.R. Company, said: On Saturday laet 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 than turned back to the gate near the Telegraph Office, and then returned and passed me On the foot-crossing on the other side of the line. I took no further notice of him until I heard a train 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 coming in foremost, strike the deceased. I cannot say whether he WAS standing still or walking. I have known the deceased for the last twelve years and had not noti,ed anything strange in his manner. William Caine'', a little b ,y, aged 11 years, said ; I was at the station on Saturday afternoon about one, standing near the new footbridge which is beiog erected. I saw the deceased, who was &wiled as a porter, walk rather slowly across the line. I saw him et )p in the middle of the further line, and I saw the train coming from the diiection of the Junotion. The engine was under the Newtou-roed bridge when I saw the deceased. He had hie back to me and was looking towards the engine house. I saw the engine strike him. Henry Griffen, engine driver, in the emphy of the L. & S.W.R. Company, said : On Saturday last I was driving into the station from the j auction 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 not see the deceased. John Symonds, stoker of the engine, said : I was about a hundred yards from the station when I saw the deceased crossing from the platform near the telegraph offioe. I thought he was going to the middle platform, and did not take any further notice of hina. I should not think there would have been time for the deceased to have crossed from one side to the other after the whistle was blown. The jury expressed a wish that Captain Wilkie, who saw the sad affair, should be called, and the inquest was adjourned until the afternoon for that purpose. • Mr. Miller, coroner, and a jury, held inquiry at t he Mermaid Hotel, on Monday, as to the cause of the death of William Warren, foreman* porter at the South-Western Station, who was killed by a goods on Saturday. Major Wilkie stated that he saw Warren walk across the line and deliberately stand in front of the engine. Mr. Maunder, stationmseter, said deceased was a sober, steady, and trustworthy servant, and he did not think he committed suicide. Dr. Aldridge said he had attended:deceased recently for biliousness and giddiness, but he had gut better. The jury returned a verdict of" Accidental death," and expressed the opinion that deceased was seized with giddiness when crossing the line, which paralysed his action,