INQUEST.
An inquest was held at the Morgue yesterday afternoon, by Mr E. H. Carew, upon the body of Henry Martin who was killed upon the railway line on the evening of Thursday last. Inspector Weldon watched the case, and Mr A. Grant was present on behalf of the railway. After the jury had returned from viewing the body,
Edwin Booth, foundry-master, deposed that the remains were those of Henry Martin. He had no doubt upon the subject. The deceased was in witness' employ, and left the foundry at about 4 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, at witness' request, as he had evidently been taking too much to drink.
In reply to the Coroner, the witness stated that deceased was unfit for work. He had never before seen him suffering from the effects of drink. He had been in the witness' employ for about five years. Had noticed nothing unusual in deceased's manner, save that he was drunk. Witness was sure of this from the smell. There had been a sale at the foundry that day, and someone had brought drink on to the premises, which the deceased must have got access to.
Benjamin Martin, labourer, residing in York place, also identified the remains as those of his son, Henry Martin, who was between 18 and 19 years old. He left the house shortly after S o'clock on Thursday evening to. take a walk, as he said, to "cool himself." He admitted having had too much to drink, and told his mother that he had been taking whisky. He had no quarrel whatever with his parents, and witness knew of no trouble that he had on his mind.
To the Foreman: Witness never before knew the deceased to take any drink at all.
Thomas Egley, shunter in the Dunedin railway-yards, deposed that a few minutes before 9 o'clock on Thursday evening he saw the deceased standing within three or four feat of the rails at the Castle street crossing. Witness was seven or eight yards from him. As the train from Palmerston was then in sight he thought deceased was waiting to let it go by. As the engine came within eight or ten feet of the deceased, he threw up his hands, and threw himself across the rails. Witness gave the danger-signal, and the driver instantly whistled for the brakes to be put down, and the train was brought to a standstill within about 40 yards. The body was found underneath the train badly mangled. The engine and about 10 or 12 trucks had passed over it.
To Inspector Weldon: The engine was too close to allow witness an opportunity of saving the deceased.
To the Coroner: The deceased threw out his hands deliberately, and appeared to purposely throw himself across the rails — not as though he had tripped.
To the Foreman: There was no obstacle about the crossing. It was a good level roadway.
To the Coroner: Deceased appeared to be walking steadily, and there was nothing peculiar about his gait.
Donald McCauley, signalman at the Castle street crossing, corroborated this evidence. Deceased walked steadily to the crossing. Witness saw no one speaking to the deceased, but saw a woman about the spot after the accident had occurred.
Charles Rollo, driver of the engine, also gave evidence as to the deceased walking up to the line and stopping as though to let the train pass. Deceased looked over his shoulder as the train approached, and suddenly threw himself upon the line. At this time the engine was about six feet from him.
The Coroner: Is it possible he could have tripped and fallen accidentally?
Witness: I do not think so. He seemed to deliberately throw himself across the line. Even if he were suffering from drink, I should still think that he threw himself down. Witness immediately reversed the engine and whistled for the brakes to be put down. It was, however, impossible to stop in time to avoid the accident. The train was proceeding at the rate of about six miles an hour.
This concluded the evidence.
The Coroner, in summing up, said that according to the depositions the lad was in what was for him a very unusual condition at the time of the occurrence. It was possible that, seeing he had never been known to drink before, the liquor might have taken.an unusual effect upon him. It seemed very strange that a young man, without any care or trouble upon his mind, should have deliberately attempted to commit suicide, and there was nothing to show that in his ordinary state he was of unsound mind in any way. If the jury thought — although some of the evidence went to show the contrary — that the occurrence was accidental, they must find accordingly. If they thought that he deliberately threw himself across the line, they would then also have to take into consideration his state of mind at the time.
The Jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict, "That deceased committed suicide whilst labouring under a fit of temporary insanity." -Otago Daily Times, 16/12/1882.
Henry Francis Martin lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.
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