JUNEE TRAGEDY
LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT JUNEE, Sunday.
An inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Marion McGuire (45), Mrs. Pearl Anderson (28), and Ernest Robert Pike (49), who were killed when a train crashed into a motor truck at a level crossing commenced on Friday. Raymond McGuire, son of Mrs. McGuire said that as the motor truck was approaching the crossing he said to another passenger that the train was going to hit them. The passenger replied: "It is not." Witness then jumped off the lorry and the next instant the train struck the vehicle broadside on. Witness said that when he saw,-the train drawing near he tried to call out, but lost his voice.
The hearing was not concluded.
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) Monday 19 September 1927 p 7 Article
THE JUNEE TRAGEDY.
EVIDENCE AT THE CORONIAL INQUIRY VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS RETURNED
YOUTH'S TRAGIC STORY OF SEARCH FOR MOTHER AND SISTER
The Deputy Coroner, Mr. A. Bennett, J.P., opened an inquiry at Junee on Friday into the death of Francis Marion Maguire (45), Pearl Eileen Anderson (28) and Ernest Robert Pike (49), who were killed in a collision between a motor truck and a railway train on the night of Sunday week at Treadwell's gates, Junee. The court-house was crowded.
Mr. A. H. Crawley appeared for the relatives of Pike; Mr. H. V. Noble looked after the interests of the Railway Commissioners and. Mr. Ainsworth (Sydney) appeared for the Engine Drivers' Association, who watched the interests of R. Lattimore, the driver of the train. Dr. Ronald Cuttle, Junee, gave evidence as to finding Ernest Pike 35 yards from the railway crossing, in an unconscious condition, and Mrs. Maguire, who also was unconscious. He later formed the idea that she had been dead about ten minutes. Mrs. Anderson, had a fractured skull and crushed chest. Mrs. Maguire died before she reached the ward at the hospital. With Dr. Weaver he attended Pike, who remained unconscious until 5 a.m. on September 13. He had sustained a fractured skull, fractured jaw, dislocation of the left clavicle, three or four ribs on the left side were broken and his left wrist was badly broken. Dr. Rupert- Gordon Weaver corroborated the evidence of Dr. Cuttle, and stated that Mrs. Anderson sustained fractures of both bones of the right leg, a fracture of the right knee-cap, fracture of the right thigh, the right ulma was fractured and there was a stave fracture of the right chest.
Raymond Thomas Maguire, 21 years of age, son of Mrs. Maguire, said Pearl Ellen Anderson was his sister. He said on Sunday night his mother and Mrs. Anderson were in the front seat of the lorry with Pike, who was driving and four children; Colin Anderson, Jean Anderson, Valma Anderson, Dolly Slattery and himself were in the back. They intended visiting Wagga. When about 15 yards from the railway crossing he saw a train coming from Junee station towards Narandera. The train was then about 30 yards from the crossing. He said to Dolly Slattery, 'This train is going to hit us,' and she replied, 'Don't be silly, it's not.' He then jumped off the lorry. The train appeared to hit the lorry fair in the centre. The three children and Miss Slattery were thrown out. The front part of the lorry was covered in and had blinds on the inside. He walked up the line and saw Mr. Pike on the broad of his back; further on he saw his mother under some spare trucks. With the assistance of a stranger he lifted her out. She was still breathing but was unconscious. He then found his sister lying on her back to the right of the main line. When he saw the train coming he tried to call out, but could not do so. He thought the lorry was travelling at about 25 miles an hour, but did not know if the train whistled. He did not see a light at the crossing, but there might have been one there.
Rufus David Lattimore, driver, of the train said at 10 p.m. on Sunday he left Junee Station with an empty stock train, en route for Narrandera. When approaching Treadwell's crossing he whistled three times. He would be travelling at about 15 miles an hour. Just as he was getting near the crossing his mate came over and said, 'There's a car coming.' This would be about 20 yards from the crossing. He saw the reflection of the headlights, but at that moment he knew he had struck something and immediately applied the emergency brake. The train went about 300 yards before it pulled up and when it stopped , he lit a lamp and found the mangled remains of a motor lorry hanging on the right guard arm of the engine. He then went back along the train and saw a boy who said, 'Did you see my mummy?' The driver then detailed the finding of the bodies, and said he assisted in removing them, afterwards returning to his engine until he was relieved at 10.55. He added that there was a clear view of the line at the crossing for anyone approaching, and warning posts and lights were exhibited.
In reply to Mr. Crawley, witness said he could not say if the Council light was alight that night. There were no gates at the crossing. The headlights on his engine were both burning brightly. To Mr. Noble, witness said it was a bright moonlight night, and a driver, approaching the train would have a view of twenty or thirty yards.
John Martin Mulcahy, guard on the train, supported Lattimore'a evidence as to sounding the whistle. He did not see the car approaching the crossing, but when the train was level with the crossing he noticed the driver had reduced the pressure to zero and he immediately screwed on the hand brakes. He went along the line and found a girl lying on her back. He helped her to sit up and she complained about her back and arm and said her name was Slattery. Cecil John Hamilton, fireman, also confirmed the evidence of previous witnesses as to the blowing of the whistle. He first saw the car about 50 yards from the crossing and it appeared to slow up as it approached. He said to the engine-driver; 'There is a car coming on my side.' As he stepped back to his own side the train struck the lorry somewhere about the near side front wheel and he saw what appeared to be persons thrown in the air. He then applied the hand brake. To Mr. Noble, witness said when working trains at night it was a frequent occurrence or motor cars to approach level crossings, but it was not the practice to reduce speed. John Joseph O'Neill, relieving stationmaster at Junee, said the train was a conditional one and ran almost every Sunday night. He knew that the gates at Treadwell's crossing had been taken away lately, but he could not say when. They had been there for a considerable number of years. After evidence had been given by John Herbert Maguire, of Regent-st., Junee, and Richard Anderson, of Loftus-st., Wagga, husbands of the two women killed, the Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone.
The Tumut and Adelong Times (NSW : 1864 - 1867; 1899 - 1950) Tuesday 20 September 1927 p 7 Article
LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT JUNEE, Sunday.
An inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Marion McGuire (45), Mrs. Pearl Anderson (28), and Ernest Robert Pike (49), who were killed when a train crashed into a motor truck at a level crossing commenced on Friday. Raymond McGuire, son of Mrs. McGuire said that as the motor truck was approaching the crossing he said to another passenger that the train was going to hit them. The passenger replied: "It is not." Witness then jumped off the lorry and the next instant the train struck the vehicle broadside on. Witness said that when he saw,-the train drawing near he tried to call out, but lost his voice.
The hearing was not concluded.
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) Monday 19 September 1927 p 7 Article
THE JUNEE TRAGEDY.
EVIDENCE AT THE CORONIAL INQUIRY VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS RETURNED
YOUTH'S TRAGIC STORY OF SEARCH FOR MOTHER AND SISTER
The Deputy Coroner, Mr. A. Bennett, J.P., opened an inquiry at Junee on Friday into the death of Francis Marion Maguire (45), Pearl Eileen Anderson (28) and Ernest Robert Pike (49), who were killed in a collision between a motor truck and a railway train on the night of Sunday week at Treadwell's gates, Junee. The court-house was crowded.
Mr. A. H. Crawley appeared for the relatives of Pike; Mr. H. V. Noble looked after the interests of the Railway Commissioners and. Mr. Ainsworth (Sydney) appeared for the Engine Drivers' Association, who watched the interests of R. Lattimore, the driver of the train. Dr. Ronald Cuttle, Junee, gave evidence as to finding Ernest Pike 35 yards from the railway crossing, in an unconscious condition, and Mrs. Maguire, who also was unconscious. He later formed the idea that she had been dead about ten minutes. Mrs. Anderson, had a fractured skull and crushed chest. Mrs. Maguire died before she reached the ward at the hospital. With Dr. Weaver he attended Pike, who remained unconscious until 5 a.m. on September 13. He had sustained a fractured skull, fractured jaw, dislocation of the left clavicle, three or four ribs on the left side were broken and his left wrist was badly broken. Dr. Rupert- Gordon Weaver corroborated the evidence of Dr. Cuttle, and stated that Mrs. Anderson sustained fractures of both bones of the right leg, a fracture of the right knee-cap, fracture of the right thigh, the right ulma was fractured and there was a stave fracture of the right chest.
Raymond Thomas Maguire, 21 years of age, son of Mrs. Maguire, said Pearl Ellen Anderson was his sister. He said on Sunday night his mother and Mrs. Anderson were in the front seat of the lorry with Pike, who was driving and four children; Colin Anderson, Jean Anderson, Valma Anderson, Dolly Slattery and himself were in the back. They intended visiting Wagga. When about 15 yards from the railway crossing he saw a train coming from Junee station towards Narandera. The train was then about 30 yards from the crossing. He said to Dolly Slattery, 'This train is going to hit us,' and she replied, 'Don't be silly, it's not.' He then jumped off the lorry. The train appeared to hit the lorry fair in the centre. The three children and Miss Slattery were thrown out. The front part of the lorry was covered in and had blinds on the inside. He walked up the line and saw Mr. Pike on the broad of his back; further on he saw his mother under some spare trucks. With the assistance of a stranger he lifted her out. She was still breathing but was unconscious. He then found his sister lying on her back to the right of the main line. When he saw the train coming he tried to call out, but could not do so. He thought the lorry was travelling at about 25 miles an hour, but did not know if the train whistled. He did not see a light at the crossing, but there might have been one there.
Rufus David Lattimore, driver, of the train said at 10 p.m. on Sunday he left Junee Station with an empty stock train, en route for Narrandera. When approaching Treadwell's crossing he whistled three times. He would be travelling at about 15 miles an hour. Just as he was getting near the crossing his mate came over and said, 'There's a car coming.' This would be about 20 yards from the crossing. He saw the reflection of the headlights, but at that moment he knew he had struck something and immediately applied the emergency brake. The train went about 300 yards before it pulled up and when it stopped , he lit a lamp and found the mangled remains of a motor lorry hanging on the right guard arm of the engine. He then went back along the train and saw a boy who said, 'Did you see my mummy?' The driver then detailed the finding of the bodies, and said he assisted in removing them, afterwards returning to his engine until he was relieved at 10.55. He added that there was a clear view of the line at the crossing for anyone approaching, and warning posts and lights were exhibited.
In reply to Mr. Crawley, witness said he could not say if the Council light was alight that night. There were no gates at the crossing. The headlights on his engine were both burning brightly. To Mr. Noble, witness said it was a bright moonlight night, and a driver, approaching the train would have a view of twenty or thirty yards.
John Martin Mulcahy, guard on the train, supported Lattimore'a evidence as to sounding the whistle. He did not see the car approaching the crossing, but when the train was level with the crossing he noticed the driver had reduced the pressure to zero and he immediately screwed on the hand brakes. He went along the line and found a girl lying on her back. He helped her to sit up and she complained about her back and arm and said her name was Slattery. Cecil John Hamilton, fireman, also confirmed the evidence of previous witnesses as to the blowing of the whistle. He first saw the car about 50 yards from the crossing and it appeared to slow up as it approached. He said to the engine-driver; 'There is a car coming on my side.' As he stepped back to his own side the train struck the lorry somewhere about the near side front wheel and he saw what appeared to be persons thrown in the air. He then applied the hand brake. To Mr. Noble, witness said when working trains at night it was a frequent occurrence or motor cars to approach level crossings, but it was not the practice to reduce speed. John Joseph O'Neill, relieving stationmaster at Junee, said the train was a conditional one and ran almost every Sunday night. He knew that the gates at Treadwell's crossing had been taken away lately, but he could not say when. They had been there for a considerable number of years. After evidence had been given by John Herbert Maguire, of Regent-st., Junee, and Richard Anderson, of Loftus-st., Wagga, husbands of the two women killed, the Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone.
The Tumut and Adelong Times (NSW : 1864 - 1867; 1899 - 1950) Tuesday 20 September 1927 p 7 Article
JUNEE TRAGEDY
LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT JUNEE, Sunday.
An inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Marion McGuire (45), Mrs. Pearl Anderson (28), and Ernest Robert Pike (49), who were killed when a train crashed into a motor truck at a level crossing commenced on Friday. Raymond McGuire, son of Mrs. McGuire said that as the motor truck was approaching the crossing he said to another passenger that the train was going to hit them. The passenger replied: "It is not." Witness then jumped off the lorry and the next instant the train struck the vehicle broadside on. Witness said that when he saw,-the train drawing near he tried to call out, but lost his voice.
The hearing was not concluded.
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) Monday 19 September 1927 p 7 Article
THE JUNEE TRAGEDY.
EVIDENCE AT THE CORONIAL INQUIRY VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS RETURNED
YOUTH'S TRAGIC STORY OF SEARCH FOR MOTHER AND SISTER
The Deputy Coroner, Mr. A. Bennett, J.P., opened an inquiry at Junee on Friday into the death of Francis Marion Maguire (45), Pearl Eileen Anderson (28) and Ernest Robert Pike (49), who were killed in a collision between a motor truck and a railway train on the night of Sunday week at Treadwell's gates, Junee. The court-house was crowded.
Mr. A. H. Crawley appeared for the relatives of Pike; Mr. H. V. Noble looked after the interests of the Railway Commissioners and. Mr. Ainsworth (Sydney) appeared for the Engine Drivers' Association, who watched the interests of R. Lattimore, the driver of the train. Dr. Ronald Cuttle, Junee, gave evidence as to finding Ernest Pike 35 yards from the railway crossing, in an unconscious condition, and Mrs. Maguire, who also was unconscious. He later formed the idea that she had been dead about ten minutes. Mrs. Anderson, had a fractured skull and crushed chest. Mrs. Maguire died before she reached the ward at the hospital. With Dr. Weaver he attended Pike, who remained unconscious until 5 a.m. on September 13. He had sustained a fractured skull, fractured jaw, dislocation of the left clavicle, three or four ribs on the left side were broken and his left wrist was badly broken. Dr. Rupert- Gordon Weaver corroborated the evidence of Dr. Cuttle, and stated that Mrs. Anderson sustained fractures of both bones of the right leg, a fracture of the right knee-cap, fracture of the right thigh, the right ulma was fractured and there was a stave fracture of the right chest.
Raymond Thomas Maguire, 21 years of age, son of Mrs. Maguire, said Pearl Ellen Anderson was his sister. He said on Sunday night his mother and Mrs. Anderson were in the front seat of the lorry with Pike, who was driving and four children; Colin Anderson, Jean Anderson, Valma Anderson, Dolly Slattery and himself were in the back. They intended visiting Wagga. When about 15 yards from the railway crossing he saw a train coming from Junee station towards Narandera. The train was then about 30 yards from the crossing. He said to Dolly Slattery, 'This train is going to hit us,' and she replied, 'Don't be silly, it's not.' He then jumped off the lorry. The train appeared to hit the lorry fair in the centre. The three children and Miss Slattery were thrown out. The front part of the lorry was covered in and had blinds on the inside. He walked up the line and saw Mr. Pike on the broad of his back; further on he saw his mother under some spare trucks. With the assistance of a stranger he lifted her out. She was still breathing but was unconscious. He then found his sister lying on her back to the right of the main line. When he saw the train coming he tried to call out, but could not do so. He thought the lorry was travelling at about 25 miles an hour, but did not know if the train whistled. He did not see a light at the crossing, but there might have been one there.
Rufus David Lattimore, driver, of the train said at 10 p.m. on Sunday he left Junee Station with an empty stock train, en route for Narrandera. When approaching Treadwell's crossing he whistled three times. He would be travelling at about 15 miles an hour. Just as he was getting near the crossing his mate came over and said, 'There's a car coming.' This would be about 20 yards from the crossing. He saw the reflection of the headlights, but at that moment he knew he had struck something and immediately applied the emergency brake. The train went about 300 yards before it pulled up and when it stopped , he lit a lamp and found the mangled remains of a motor lorry hanging on the right guard arm of the engine. He then went back along the train and saw a boy who said, 'Did you see my mummy?' The driver then detailed the finding of the bodies, and said he assisted in removing them, afterwards returning to his engine until he was relieved at 10.55. He added that there was a clear view of the line at the crossing for anyone approaching, and warning posts and lights were exhibited.
In reply to Mr. Crawley, witness said he could not say if the Council light was alight that night. There were no gates at the crossing. The headlights on his engine were both burning brightly. To Mr. Noble, witness said it was a bright moonlight night, and a driver, approaching the train would have a view of twenty or thirty yards.
John Martin Mulcahy, guard on the train, supported Lattimore'a evidence as to sounding the whistle. He did not see the car approaching the crossing, but when the train was level with the crossing he noticed the driver had reduced the pressure to zero and he immediately screwed on the hand brakes. He went along the line and found a girl lying on her back. He helped her to sit up and she complained about her back and arm and said her name was Slattery. Cecil John Hamilton, fireman, also confirmed the evidence of previous witnesses as to the blowing of the whistle. He first saw the car about 50 yards from the crossing and it appeared to slow up as it approached. He said to the engine-driver; 'There is a car coming on my side.' As he stepped back to his own side the train struck the lorry somewhere about the near side front wheel and he saw what appeared to be persons thrown in the air. He then applied the hand brake. To Mr. Noble, witness said when working trains at night it was a frequent occurrence or motor cars to approach level crossings, but it was not the practice to reduce speed. John Joseph O'Neill, relieving stationmaster at Junee, said the train was a conditional one and ran almost every Sunday night. He knew that the gates at Treadwell's crossing had been taken away lately, but he could not say when. They had been there for a considerable number of years. After evidence had been given by John Herbert Maguire, of Regent-st., Junee, and Richard Anderson, of Loftus-st., Wagga, husbands of the two women killed, the Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone.
The Tumut and Adelong Times (NSW : 1864 - 1867; 1899 - 1950) Tuesday 20 September 1927 p 7 Article
LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT JUNEE, Sunday.
An inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Marion McGuire (45), Mrs. Pearl Anderson (28), and Ernest Robert Pike (49), who were killed when a train crashed into a motor truck at a level crossing commenced on Friday. Raymond McGuire, son of Mrs. McGuire said that as the motor truck was approaching the crossing he said to another passenger that the train was going to hit them. The passenger replied: "It is not." Witness then jumped off the lorry and the next instant the train struck the vehicle broadside on. Witness said that when he saw,-the train drawing near he tried to call out, but lost his voice.
The hearing was not concluded.
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) Monday 19 September 1927 p 7 Article
THE JUNEE TRAGEDY.
EVIDENCE AT THE CORONIAL INQUIRY VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS RETURNED
YOUTH'S TRAGIC STORY OF SEARCH FOR MOTHER AND SISTER
The Deputy Coroner, Mr. A. Bennett, J.P., opened an inquiry at Junee on Friday into the death of Francis Marion Maguire (45), Pearl Eileen Anderson (28) and Ernest Robert Pike (49), who were killed in a collision between a motor truck and a railway train on the night of Sunday week at Treadwell's gates, Junee. The court-house was crowded.
Mr. A. H. Crawley appeared for the relatives of Pike; Mr. H. V. Noble looked after the interests of the Railway Commissioners and. Mr. Ainsworth (Sydney) appeared for the Engine Drivers' Association, who watched the interests of R. Lattimore, the driver of the train. Dr. Ronald Cuttle, Junee, gave evidence as to finding Ernest Pike 35 yards from the railway crossing, in an unconscious condition, and Mrs. Maguire, who also was unconscious. He later formed the idea that she had been dead about ten minutes. Mrs. Anderson, had a fractured skull and crushed chest. Mrs. Maguire died before she reached the ward at the hospital. With Dr. Weaver he attended Pike, who remained unconscious until 5 a.m. on September 13. He had sustained a fractured skull, fractured jaw, dislocation of the left clavicle, three or four ribs on the left side were broken and his left wrist was badly broken. Dr. Rupert- Gordon Weaver corroborated the evidence of Dr. Cuttle, and stated that Mrs. Anderson sustained fractures of both bones of the right leg, a fracture of the right knee-cap, fracture of the right thigh, the right ulma was fractured and there was a stave fracture of the right chest.
Raymond Thomas Maguire, 21 years of age, son of Mrs. Maguire, said Pearl Ellen Anderson was his sister. He said on Sunday night his mother and Mrs. Anderson were in the front seat of the lorry with Pike, who was driving and four children; Colin Anderson, Jean Anderson, Valma Anderson, Dolly Slattery and himself were in the back. They intended visiting Wagga. When about 15 yards from the railway crossing he saw a train coming from Junee station towards Narandera. The train was then about 30 yards from the crossing. He said to Dolly Slattery, 'This train is going to hit us,' and she replied, 'Don't be silly, it's not.' He then jumped off the lorry. The train appeared to hit the lorry fair in the centre. The three children and Miss Slattery were thrown out. The front part of the lorry was covered in and had blinds on the inside. He walked up the line and saw Mr. Pike on the broad of his back; further on he saw his mother under some spare trucks. With the assistance of a stranger he lifted her out. She was still breathing but was unconscious. He then found his sister lying on her back to the right of the main line. When he saw the train coming he tried to call out, but could not do so. He thought the lorry was travelling at about 25 miles an hour, but did not know if the train whistled. He did not see a light at the crossing, but there might have been one there.
Rufus David Lattimore, driver, of the train said at 10 p.m. on Sunday he left Junee Station with an empty stock train, en route for Narrandera. When approaching Treadwell's crossing he whistled three times. He would be travelling at about 15 miles an hour. Just as he was getting near the crossing his mate came over and said, 'There's a car coming.' This would be about 20 yards from the crossing. He saw the reflection of the headlights, but at that moment he knew he had struck something and immediately applied the emergency brake. The train went about 300 yards before it pulled up and when it stopped , he lit a lamp and found the mangled remains of a motor lorry hanging on the right guard arm of the engine. He then went back along the train and saw a boy who said, 'Did you see my mummy?' The driver then detailed the finding of the bodies, and said he assisted in removing them, afterwards returning to his engine until he was relieved at 10.55. He added that there was a clear view of the line at the crossing for anyone approaching, and warning posts and lights were exhibited.
In reply to Mr. Crawley, witness said he could not say if the Council light was alight that night. There were no gates at the crossing. The headlights on his engine were both burning brightly. To Mr. Noble, witness said it was a bright moonlight night, and a driver, approaching the train would have a view of twenty or thirty yards.
John Martin Mulcahy, guard on the train, supported Lattimore'a evidence as to sounding the whistle. He did not see the car approaching the crossing, but when the train was level with the crossing he noticed the driver had reduced the pressure to zero and he immediately screwed on the hand brakes. He went along the line and found a girl lying on her back. He helped her to sit up and she complained about her back and arm and said her name was Slattery. Cecil John Hamilton, fireman, also confirmed the evidence of previous witnesses as to the blowing of the whistle. He first saw the car about 50 yards from the crossing and it appeared to slow up as it approached. He said to the engine-driver; 'There is a car coming on my side.' As he stepped back to his own side the train struck the lorry somewhere about the near side front wheel and he saw what appeared to be persons thrown in the air. He then applied the hand brake. To Mr. Noble, witness said when working trains at night it was a frequent occurrence or motor cars to approach level crossings, but it was not the practice to reduce speed. John Joseph O'Neill, relieving stationmaster at Junee, said the train was a conditional one and ran almost every Sunday night. He knew that the gates at Treadwell's crossing had been taken away lately, but he could not say when. They had been there for a considerable number of years. After evidence had been given by John Herbert Maguire, of Regent-st., Junee, and Richard Anderson, of Loftus-st., Wagga, husbands of the two women killed, the Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone.
The Tumut and Adelong Times (NSW : 1864 - 1867; 1899 - 1950) Tuesday 20 September 1927 p 7 Article
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