The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1884-04-11 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ATION.  A very sad and fatal accident happened on Saturday about mid-day at the Yeovil statien, by which a very steady, civil, and obliging perter, named William Warren, seed 28, hits been deprived of his life. The particulars of the melancholy iucident were given at the inquest, which was held at the Mermaid on Monday miming, befere W. Muller, E , coroner, and it jury of whom Mr. Penny was foreman. One of the jerymee Mr. Ripper, failed to out in an appearance at the appo,nted time, and Wr. Penny, draper, wee summoned to serve in his place. Alter the names had been called Mr. Ripper entered tee Hotel, and WM ordered to be detained. He was afterwards called in and t ld by the Coroner that atter waiting ten minutes another juryman had to be summoned, and it was important that when jurymen were summoned they should be punctual and riot keep the others waiting.—Mr. Ripper expresied his regret and ssid he bad been detained by a traveller. The Coroner accepted the explanatien and t ld the police officer to summou Mr. Ripper to appear on another jury to be empanelled that afternoon. The Coroner, iu stating tee facts, sail they had met to enquire into a very sad accident which happened on Saturday from circumstances it was someweat difficult to understanu—whether the deceased lost his presence of mind or what, but he was kuocked down by a passing train and instantaneously killed. On the return of the jury from the cemetery, where the body was lying, the following evideuce was taken : J.ha Herridge, ganger, in the employ of the L. & S.W.R. Compeny, amid: On Saturday lost I was working inside the station, near the ieeele platform, about 1 30. The deceased came to where I was, but did not speak. He then turned back to the hate near the Telegraph OffiC3, and then returue 1 and passed we on the foot-crossing on the other Hide of the line. I took no further notice of him until I heard a train coining from the Junctioe. 1 heard the driver blowing the whistle as is usual. When the train approached the platform I saw the tender which was c 'mire; in foremost, strike the decamied. I ()moot say whether he was staudine still or waleieg. I have known the deceased fur the last twelve years and had not not Lee anything strange in his mauner. William Caines, a little b ,y, aged 11 yearr, s ; I was at the station on daturday aft imam about one, stifling near the new footbridge which is being erected. I saw the deceased, who was dieseed as a porter, walk rather slowly acme; the line. I saw him et in tee middle of the further line, and 1 saw the train comieg from the enection of the Junction. Tee engine was under the Newton-road bridge when I saw the deceased. He had his back to me and was looking towards the engine house. 1 saw the engine strike him. Henry Griffen. engine driver, in the em el my of the L. & S.W.R. Company, said : On Saturday last I was drivin; into the station from the jaection a goods train. I reached Ye evil at 1.31. 1 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 f the engine, said : I was about a hundred yards from the station when I saw the deceased crossing from tim platform near the telegraph office. I thought he was going to the middle pla!form, cud did not take any further notice of him. 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 blou.  The jury expressed a wish that Captain Wilkie, who saw the sA,I Link, should be called, and the inquest was adjourned until the afternoon for that purpose. Mr. Miller, coroner, and a jury, held inquiry at the Mermai I Hotel, on Monday, as to the naive 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 tbq line and deliberately stand in front of the engine. Mr. Maunder, stationmaster, said deceased was a sober, steely, and trustw.r thy servant, and he did nut think he committed suicide.  Dr. Aldri Igo said he hid attendod;decensed recently for biliousness aud giddiness, but he had g,)t better. The jury returned a verdict of" Accidental death," and expressed the opinion tlbit decoased was seizad with giddiness when crossing the libe, which paralysed his action.