Mary Ann (Newitt) Tanner (1864 - 1918)

Born 15 Sep 1864 in Singleton, Colony of New South Wales

Ancestors

Wife of Frederick William Tanner — married 1882 in Tamworth, Colony of New South Wales

Descendants

Died 24 Dec 1918 at age 54 in Pothana, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Mary (Newitt) Tanner was born in the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

Mary Ann NEWITT, daughter of James NEWITT and Mary Ann TURNER, was born on 15 September 1864 in Patricks Plain (R.D.), Colony of New South Wales and died on 24 December 1918 in Pothana, New South Wales, Australia at age 54. The cause of her death was while temporarily insane, she injured her head by falling from a window to the tank stand, and then wandered to the railway line and that she died from exhaustion, accelerated by a weak heart, and the remains were mutilated by a train.

Mary married Frederick William TANNER, son of Thomas TANNER and Mary A. TOWNSHEND, in 1882 in Tamworth (R.D.), Colony of New South Wales.

Frederick was born in 1862 in Murrurundi (R.D.), Colony of New South Wales, died on 31 March 1949 in Branxton, New South Wales, Australia at age 87, and was buried in General Cemetery, Branxton, New South Wales, Australia.

They had 11 children: Frederick William, Ethel May, George Arthur, Maud ("Maudie"), Ernest, Olive C., Roy, Lily, Herbert ("Bertie"), Hilda, and Emma.

Noted events in her life were:

• Residence ~ November 1910 ~ Mary lived in Branxton, NSW.

• Residence ~ December 1918 ~ Mary lived in Pothana, NSW.

Sources

• "NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, 1788-1919" .[1]
  Birth Registration: Name, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Year, District, Registration Number
  Mary A Newitt (James & Mary A) 1864 Patricks Plain NSW BDM 13203.

• "NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, 1788-1989".[2]
  Death Registration: Name, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Year, District, Registration Number
  Mary A Tanner (48 yrs Singleton & _) 1918 Singleton NSW BDM 15647.

• "Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954"
  Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954) - Saturday 28 December 1918 - page 1 - [3]
  SHOCKING RAILWAY FATALITY - WOMAN TERRIBLY MUTILATED. Opening of Inquest.
  About 6 a.m. on Tuesday last Constable Stinson received word from Mr H. C. Moss, the Singleton stationmaster, that a woman's dead body had been found on the railway line between Pothana and Branxton, and was being brought on the goods train No. 37. The police officer proceeded to the station, where he found the badly mutilated body of a woman in a goods van. The remains were identified as those of Mrs Mary Anne Tanner, aged 48, the wife of a fettler working near Branxton.
  They were removed to the morgue at Dangar Cottage Hospital, and at 10 a.m. an enquiry into the sad affair was opened at the Hospital by the District Coroner (Mr D. M'Dougall). At the inquest Constable Stinson said the driver of the goods train (L. Mathieson) and the fireman (H. C. Hannan) told him that at the 37 mileage that morning they saw the body lying on the 4ft. way. It was opposite her dwelling, and about 200 yards from the line.
  Evidence was given by Roy Tanner, a laborer, son of deceased, who said he last saw his mother at 11.30 the night before, when she was in bed. She had had a good deal of sickness lately. Dr. Woods, of Branxton, had been treating her for partial insanity, and she suffered from insomnia. The door of her room was locked the night before, and next morning witness found the window of her room open and his mother missing. From the window to the ground was 4 feet, and a tank stand beneath was 6 inches from the ground. There were blood stain on the tank. Witness further stated that deceased had been to Newcastle with him and his brother and aunt the day before, and she got home at 9 p.m. She was restless during the night, and the family had been watching her. They had an idea she might commit suicide. Witness had four brothers and five sisters living, and one son and one daughter were dead. Dr. Maffey, in his evidence, said the body of deceased was that of a well-nourished elderly woman, and it was much mutilated. The top of the skull was crushed and all brain substance gone; both jaws were broken, the two arms were smashed, the ribs crushed, and both legs were removed from 6 inches below the knees. A remarkable fact noted by the doctor was that there was no blood on the hair and very little on the clothing. This was compatible with the idea of injuries having been received previously. "I think it is possible," said the doctor, "that in falling from the window to the tank she may have injured her head, and was subsequently run over by the train. It was impossible to detect any injury that might have been caused prior to her being run over by the train." It was further stated that her position on the rails corresponded with that of the injuries described. The inquest was adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on Monday next, at the Court house, to permit of further evidence being taken.

• "Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954"
  Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954) - Tuesday 31 December 1918 - page 2 - [4]
  RECENT RAILWAY FATALITY - RESUMPTION OF INQUEST.
  At the Courthouse yesterday the District Coroner (Mr D. M'Dougall) resumed the inquest regarding the death of Mary Anne Tanner, whose body was found on the railway line near Branxton on December 24. Inspectors Evans and Roberts represented the Railway Commissioners.
  Sydney Burris, engine-driver, gave evidence that he was driver on the up-Moree train on the 24th December. At 1.56 a.m. he was at the 37 mileage. It was dark then, and he felt no bump or obstruction. At Hamilton he saw some dress material on the nut of the king pin of the bogey and some blood stains on the engine springs. The material was brown, with a white flower pattern. Hugh Cecil Hannan, loco. fireman, who was on No. 37 goods train going to Muswellbrook on December 24, described finding the remains of deceased on the line near mileage 37, between Pothana and Branxton, at 5.10 a.m. The train was stopped and no person was in sight. The body was lying across the 4-foot and between the rails. The legs were cut off, and the head badly crushed. Some yards from the body there was a lot of blood. Deceased's shoes were found about 12 yards from the body. The body was lifted into a van and brought into Singleton. To Sergeant Menary: There was a track from Tanner's house to the railway line, and the body was found about 12 yards south of the track. To Inspector Evans: To get on the line one would have to get through the fence and climb a bank. Archibald Campbell, fireman on the railway, who was firing on the Moree up train on the 24th, gave evidence similar to that of Driver Burris.
  Lindsay Ross Mathieson, driver of No. 37 goods train on December 24, corroborated Fireman Hannan's evidence as to the finding of the body of deceased. Driver Burris (recalled) stated that he saw no blood or marks on the buffers of his engine, nor anything to show the engine had struck a person who was standing. In his opinion, from what he saw, the person was lying down. The king bolt would be from 4 to 6 inches above the ballast. George F. Mullin, Sub Inspector of Permanent Way, stated he examined the scene of the accident at 1.15 p.m. on the 24th December. Saw where something had been struck on the west side of the line, near 37 mileage; also traces where a body had apparently been dragged along the line. The embankment was about 25 feet high, fairly steep, and hard to climb. The path from the house was directly opposite where the body was struck. Fettler Tanner used the pathway going to and from work.
  Further evidence was given by members of deceased's family, one daughter saying her mother had told her she was tired of life through the pain she suffered. Another daughter stated deceased told her she had gone up to the line for a train to go over her, but she was too late. That was a week before her death. Frederick Tanner, the husband, said that some months ago Dr. Wood told him deceased should go to a mental hospital. She was taken to Newcastle Hospital, but not admitted. She had expressed a wish to die after an operation. All the witnesses said they lived very happily together, and there was no quarrel. Constable Rose, of Branxton, deposed to seeing the bloodstains on the tank stand under deceased's window. He put in a statement by Dr. B. H. Wood, in which that gentleman said he had attended deceased for insomnia and heart weakness. In March last she was quite insane, and he gave the husband a certificate. She would be likely to collapse from weakness and excitement after leaving the house and climbing the steep embankment.
  A verdict was returned that deceased, while temporarily insane, injured her head by falling from a window to the tank stand, and then wandered to the railway line; that she died from exhaustion, accelerated by a weak heart, and the remains were mutilated by a train. It was added that there was no blame attachable to anyone.

• "NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, 1788-1969".[5]
  Marriage Registration: Groom's name, Bride's name, Year, District, Registration Number
  Frederick Tanner & Mary Ann Newill 1882 Tamworth NSW BDM 06578.