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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal and Western Advertiser Wednesday 25 May 1921
Page 7 Column 1
TRAGIC AFFAIR NEAR BRIDGWATER.
SOMERSET BRIDGE MAN'S BODY FOUND ON THE G.W.R.
DEPRESSION FOLLOWING INFLUENZA.
AN OPEN VERDICT.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning a terrible discovery was made on the Great Western Railway Line between Bridgwater and Durston, the mutilated remains of a man who had been cut to pieces by a passing train being found on the down rail by officials of the Company. The body was subsequently identified as that of John PARKER, aged 59 years, a brickyard labourer, of Somerset Bridge. Following an attack of influenza the poor fellow had been very depressed of late, and he left his house and wandered out on the railway, being probably knocked down by the mail train arriving at Bridgwater at 1.58 a.m. The remains were removed by the railway officials to a shed at the Malt and Hops Inn, Somerset Bridge. Much sympathy is felt for the widow and family of the deceased in their sudden bereavement.
THE INQUEST.
Mr. T. Foster BARHAM (coroner for West Somerset) held an inquest on the body on Thursday afternoon at the Malt and Hops Inn, Somerset Bridge, no jury being empanelled. The G.W.R. Co. was represented by Inspector ACTIVE, district inspector, Yatton, and Mr. W. COOKE, of the locomotive department, Taunton. Supt. S--WART of the county police, was present, and P.C. TREEBY acted as Coroner's officer.
Mary Jane PARKER, the widow, who was greatly distressed while giving evidence, said her husband had been suffering from sleeplessness lately, and had been attended by Dr. COATES for the past six weeks, suffering from influenza. She last saw deceased alive on the night of the 17th, when he went to bed about quarter-past nine. She went up to bed at quarter-past ten, and he then complained that he could not sleep. For some time he had suffered from sleeplessness and had no appetite. When she woke up at six o'clock the next morning she found that her husband was not there. She got out of bed to see if he was downstairs. Nothing had been disarranged, and as she could not find him she went out in the garden to see if he was there, as he was in the habit of roaming from one place to another.
Samuel Thos. PARKER, brickyard labourer, of Somerset-place, Somerset Bridge, identified the body as that of his father. Witness saw him on the afternoon of the 17th, when he was ill, crying, and very depressed.
The Coroner: He has not said or done anything to make you think he would take his life? – Witness: No, never. He always has been the very best of fathers.
But lately his depression has not made him talk about doing anything to himself? – No, sir; he has never said anything like that.
Albert CHIDGEY, station foreman at the Bridgwater G.W.R. Station, stated that on the morning of the 18th a communication was made to him about five a.m. by the driver of the 8.50 p.m. goods train from Laira, Plymouth, due at Bridgwater at five a.m., that whilst passing near Mead's Crossing, Somerset Bridge, he saw something on the line on the down road which appeared to be in the nature of a body. Another goods train, 4.45 a.m. from Taunton, which was following close behind, was instructed to keep a sharp look-out near the crossing. This was done, and on the arrival at the station the driver reported that it was the body of a man lying on the down line about 150 yards from the signal box. Witness telephoned to the police, and, in company with two other men, proceeded to the spot with a stretcher to remove the body. They found the remains of the lower portion of the trunk and the legs in the 4ft. way, and the upper portion outside the near rail, about 160 yards from the crossing. The lower portion of the body was stripped of all clothing. The head was badly knocked about, and there was no chance of recognising any features, the body being cut in two. There was evidence on the rails that the body had been carried 50 or 60 yards by the engine. Witness considered that it was the ten o'clock train from Paddington, passing Bridgwater at 1.58 a.m., that caused the man's death. It was a very quiet night and fairly light. The body was removed to the outhouse of the Malt and Hops Inn.
Dr. R. COATES, of Bridgwater, said he had attended deceased since January, when he had influenza, and was in bed a little time. He had been to see witness since then, in fact he had attended him up to the last few days. He had been suffering from nervous depression and debility since then, and complained of pains in the head, sleeplessness, and of “feeling lost” at times. He had not had any suicidal tendency as far as witness could judge, and had expressed nothing of the sort to him.
The Coroner (to the son): Your father did not leave any letter or anything of that sort? – The son: Nothing whatever, sir.
He has wondered out in the night before? – No, sir. He used to go for long walks, and has always been used to getting up early in the morning.
Not as early as one or two? – No: between three and four. He would go gardening.
The Coroner said it was rather difficult to come to a decision in this case. There was evidence of the man suffering pain, depression, and sleeplessness following influenza and a feeling of being “lost” at times. It might have been that he lost himself altogether, but he was certain that the man's mind was affected, and that he did not know what he was about. He (the Coroner) knew that deceased was an excellent workman, and was spoken of very highly by all who knew him. He would return a verdict that deceased was killed on the railway, but under what circumstances there was not sufficient evidence to show. “I cannot (added the Coroner) go as far as to say that he took his own life. It is a very sad case.”