Its highly likely that the above account is for my" James Powell. I have found no other James Powell living in Swindon at this time on the census' either on the 1871 or 1881 census. James would have been 16 at this time
Similar to previous image
Article In Paper About Suicide
Article In Paper About Suicide
Article In Paper About Suicide
Swindon News Transcribed By Francis
The gruesome discovery of the terribly mutilated body of an elderly man on the G.W.R. Line at Stratton formed the subject of an enquiry at Stratton on Friday. The story of the discovery was reported exclusively in last weeks Advertiser, and the evidence at the inquest pointed to suicide of a deliberate character.
The enquiry was held in the Boardroom at the Poor Law Institution, Stratton St. Margaret, by Mr A.L. Forrester of Malmesbury, Coroner for North Wilts., sitting without a jury. The body had been identified as that of James Powell, an old inhabitant of Stratton, who left the village several years ago, but returned recently and has been an inmate of the Poor Law Institution. He left the Workhouse on the morning of the tragedy, and there appears to be no doubt that he deliberately committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a G.W.R. Train.
The mutilated remains were found on the line, placed in a hand cart and removed by P.C. Nash of Stratton, to the mortuary at the Institution. It is stated that the deceased was a married man living apart from his wife, who resides at Portsmouth. The G.W.Co., was represented at the enquiry by Mt W. Dowse, locomotive department foreman, and a Mr G. Willmott, traffic department inspector of
Swindon. Evidence of identification was given by Henry Spackman, acting porter at the Poor Law Institution, Stratton St. Margaret, who said deceased was 63 years of age, and entered the institution three weeks ago. He took his discharge at 9.30 a.m. On Thursday. Deceased had been in the institution on previous occasions.
The Drivers Story Thomas William Woolhouse, of 32, Salisbury Road, Reading, a driver on the
G.W.R. said he was driving the 2.5 p.m. Passenger slow train ex-Swindon to Reading. When between Highgrove Junction and Marston level crossing he saw a man cross the line from the down side to the upside. Witness blew his whistle. On the train approaching the spot where he had crossed the line the deceased doubled back and stood upright in the up four foot way and faced the train.
It was quite impossible for me to stop the train at once, said the witness, but I informed the guard. Witness added that there was a footpath across the line near where the fatality occurred. Thomas Willie. Of 7, Thorngate Road, Maida Hill, London, a passenger guard on the train which knocked down the deceased, said the train was pulled up suddenly as described by the previous witness, who informed him that the man had been knocked down on the line. I went back to the rear of the train immediately and found the body of a man. I removed the remains to the bank.
.jpg)
