William Henry James Glass, (1881-4/4/1901). "the train gave a swerve"

DEATH.

GLASS. — On the 4th inst., at Dunedin Hospital (the result of an accident), William Henry James, third beloved son of Ebenezer and Mary Glass, aged 20 years. 

The funeral will leave his parents' residence, Ure street, for the Oamaru Cemetery at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday, 7th inst. Friends are kindly invited to attend. 

G. L. Grenfell, Undertaker, Tees street. Telephone No. 105.  -Oamaru Mail, 6/4/1901.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY.

An inquest was held at the Hospital on Saturday morning before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., and a jury of six on the body of William Henry James Glass, aged 20, who died in the institution from injuries sustained through falling off a train about two miles south of Palmerston on Thursday night. Mr J. Downes was chosen foreman of the jury, and Mr James Macdonald was present on behalf of the Railway department. 

Dr Hall, house surgeon of the Hospital, said that deceased when brought to the institution was suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull, which led to hemorrhage. The conditions were hopeless from the start, the man eventually dying from paralysis of the brain. 

Francis Edgar Glass, brother of deceased, residing in Oamaru, said that he was travelling with deceased. Witness was inside the carriage, and his brother was standing outside. The carriage was full, there being no sitting room inside, consequently deceased was obliged to go out on the platform. Witness heard that his brother had been thrown off the train, and five minutes later he told the guard about the occurrence, but the train did not pull up until it readied Waikouaiti. 

To Sergeant Higgins: His brother was sober. He did not see any footballers aboard the train. 

To Mr Macdonald: There was standing room in the carriage. He could not say whether there was sitting room in the other carriages. 

Charles Symon, living at Oamaru, said that he was on the platform with deceased. They left Oamaru about half-past 4 in the afternoon. There was only standing room in the carriage. The next carriage was also full. After leaving Palmerston the train gave a swerve, and deceased fell backwards on to the ground. He was standing against the railing with his hands in his pockets. He rolled off the carriage. Deceased was quite sober. He had one drink at Palmerston. 

John Austin, guard of the train, stated that on passing Goodwood he was informed of what had occurred. Witness did not try to pull up the train, but on arrival at Waikouaiti he wired the stationmaster at Palmerston to send assistance to the man. The train was fairly full, but not crowded. There was sitting room for everybody in the train if the passengers had properly distributed themselves. 

To Mr Macdonald: Deceased was not drunk, but witness believed that he was slightly under the influence of liquor. 

The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."  -Otago Daily Times, 8/4/1901.

Oamaru Cemetery.