Surgeon attends suicide on railway line (1870)

Post date: Nov 01, 2013 3:46:8 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph 10th December 1870

SUICIDE TESTON —INQUEST ON THE BODY.

The inquest on the body of the unfortunate man George Welford, who committed suicide on Thursday morning, throwing himself in front of a train, was held on Friday afternoon, at a house on Mr Fremlin's farm, before J Dudlow, Esq., and jury, of which Coulthwaite was the foreman. The Coroner said there was no doubt that the deceased met with his death by his own act and it was for them, after hearing the evidence to say whether he was in a sound state of mind or not when he did so.

The following evidence was then taken :—

Sergeant Thomas Dixon, 7th Dragoon Guards deposed that he had seen the deceased and identified him as George Welford, who enlisted inhis regiment, at Newcastle, on the 12th Nov last. He came to Maidstone the 19th November, and witness had charge of the quarters to which he belonged. He saw him daily. The last time witness saw him alive was at the stables between 5 and 6 on the evening the 30th. He was grooming his horse. On calling the roll at 10 he was absent. Witness had not seen him since until he saw his remains. During the time witness had charge of him deceased appeared to be sullen and depressed. In witness's opinion he seemed sorry that he had enlisted and that this preyed upon his mind. By a juror—He never mentioned any family matters. He was very melancholy.

William Whiteman deposed that he was a guard in the employ of the South Eastern Company. He left Maidstone yesterday morning by the 9.50 up train. When they came to Teston saw the deceased standing on the down side clear of the line. When the train was within three rods of him he suddenly ran across the line and threw himself in front of the engine. The driver shut off steam and they stopped as soon as they could in a distance of 200 yards. The guard-iron on the off side was bent as if it had struck him. The buffer did not appear to have struck him. He was thrown under the engine but witness did not believe that the engine passed over him as there were no marks on the wheels.He believed all the carriages passed over him as all the train was shaken and the passengers all enquired what had been run over. Deceased must have died instantaneously. He had no right to be where he was as he was 40 feet from the crossing. He threw himself deliberately in front of the train. He had plenty of time to cross before the train came up had he wished to do so. The engine driver and stoker not having seen the deceased before the train had passed over him it was thought unnecessary to call them.

William Russell, labourer, deposed that he had seen the deceased. He saw him yesterday morning a little before ten. He came up to witness, who was about a quarter of mile from Wateringbury, and asked him to have some whiskey. Witness drank some from a bottle which deceased gave him and he then went away.

Mr Ewins, bailiff to Roger Leigh, Esq., said he met the deceased a little before ten on the morning of the 30th. His appearance struck witness as very strange. He appeared to be in a very desponding state.

George Hollingsbee deposed that he kept the gate at the Teston Crossing. He saw the deceased alittle before ten on the previous day in the Maidstone road. He stood there till the 9.50 train was coming from Maidstone when ran down the meadow on to the line. He stood on the down side till the train came up. He stood there till the train was almost close to him when he rushed forward and threw himself before the engine. Witness was about 200 yards distant.

Mr J. W. Fry, surgeon of Wateringbury, deposed that saw the deceased twice yesterday morning in Wateringbury village, and was struck with his peculiar appearance. About an hour after he was sent for and saw the deceased, whom he recognised as the man he had before seen. He was cut to pieces and death must have been instantaneous. From the appearance of his face and the formation of his head he was led to believe that deceased was of a melancholy temperament. From this and the evidence he had heard he should say that deceased was man most likely to have committed suicide.

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while in an unsound state of mind. The foreman of the jury suggested that the crossing should be done away with. It was a very dangerous one, being near a curve, and he had frequently trembled for children when he had seen them going across. It would only make a difference of about 100 yards of the public went round the road. The gatekeeper said he had seen women crossing the line, and have their clothes almost touched by the train. Mr Ewins was asked to forward the suggestion to Mr Leigh, to whom the path belonged.