The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-11-11 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

NESTON MAN DECAPITATED ON THE RAILWAY.  The West Cheshire Coroner, Mr. J. C. Bate, held an inquest on Saturday. at the Eagle and Crown Hotel, Upton, concerning the death of a young Neston man named Thomas Price, aged 33, whoee dead body was found on the railway line near Upton, on Wednesday last week.  William Price, the brother of the deceased, who lives in Park-road, Liverpool, stated I that the latter was in his employ as a grocer's assistant.. The last occasion on: which witness saw his brother was early on Wednesday morning. Deceased left the shop shortly after 9 a.m, to collect some orders: near Prince's Park. Liverpool. Afterwards he had an appointment with a gentleman in Liverpool with a view to securing another situation as the late hours on Saturday at witness's shop did not suit him. Deceased appeared to be in good spirits when he left the shop. Witness afterwards ascertained that his brother called on the gentleman referred to who told him that he could do nothing for him then, but asked him to call again in a fortnight. It evidently appeared I to be deceased's intention to call again, because he observed to a young man in the office that he would be back in a fortnight.' Deceased had never threatened to take his his and appeared to be perfeety right so far as his mind was concerned. He, however, frequently complained of pains in the head, and this was attributed to an attack of sunstroke' which he had had whilst in the Army, in which he had served for twelve yews. So far as witness knew there was no reason whatever why the deceased should take his life. Among the letters in the possession of the deceased was one acldrewed in a lady's handwriting. On the envelope of this letter was written, "My home, 4, Gladstone-road, Neste/4 Cheshire," in the deceased's handwriting." Witness explained that this was his father's address. Deceased at the time of his death was living in apartments in Dorritt-street, Liverpool. Robert Griffiths, signalman at Upton Station, deposed that he received a notification from Hoswall Hills Station at 8.32 p.m. that the driver of the 8.12 p.m. train from Upton thought he had seen something on the line outside the down signal. Witness Proceeded down the line on the Heewall Hills side and found the body of the deceased on the metals. The body was lying outside the rail, while the heed which, had been severed, was lying in the " four-foot " about six feet away. _  An engine driver named Charles Craven said he was driving a train which passed Upton about 6.23 p.m. Tn accordance with instructions he examined his engine at Bidston sheds about II p.m. He found no traces of blood on the wheels, but there was a spot of blood and a few hairs on the motion plate. He had seen nothing on the line and had felt no vibration of the engine. The night was dark and foggy. Several trains must have passed along the line between 6.20 p.m. and the time the body was discovered. A police constable stationed at Upton said there were no marks or bruises about the body of the deceased to show that he had been thrown down on the line by the train. Deceased was lying on his side with his shoulder against the rail, while his legs were underneath the signal wires at the side. It looked as if the deceased had placed himself there. . . . . .  The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had committed suicides hut that there was no PV d nice to show the state of his mind at the time.