Child killed at Tamworth Station 8th September 1873

The youngest daughter was killed upon the spot, and Mrs. Booth, in endeavouring to save her, was struck upon the hand by the engine, and severely injured. The other daughter fortunately escaped. This adds another item to the long list of deaths which have been caused by the want of foot bridges across the rails at our railway stations. After a few more casualties the railway companies may begin to supply the want.

The down express from Rugby, which passes Tamworth a little after eight o'clock, came upon the people unexpectedly causing great consternation. All managed to get out of the way but Mrs. Booth's youngest daughter, Lucy Ann, aged six years. The train struck her on the head, death being instantaneous.

Hopes are entertained that this accident will induce the railway company to erect a foot-bridge for passengers, a very necessary precaution.

A sad accident occurred at the London and North-Western station, at Tamworth, on Monday night last. A Mrs. Booth, whose husband carries on the business of a tinman, in Lichfield, had been to Cannock Chase with her two daughters to see the manoeuvres. On returning home they, by some mistake, got into an excursion train at Rugeley, which did not stay at Lichfield, and brought them on to Tamworth.

At the latter station, when crossing the line from the up platform to the down, it is supposed in the confusion she did not observe the down express from Rugby, which passes Tamworth a little after eight o'clock. The crush was very great, and the express came upon the people, causing great consternation ; but all managed to get out of the way except Mrs. Booth's youngest daughter, named Lucy Ann, a fine girl, six years of age. The train struck her on the head, completely cutting the upper part away, and hurling it a distance of twelve yards, where it was picked up, with its beautiful trusses of auburn hair still attached. The body fell at the feet of Mrs. Booth, death, of course, being instantaneous.

The mother, whose grief at her sad loss can be better imagined than described, in endeavouring to save her child, came into contact with the express with her hand, which was badly lacerated, and had one of the bones broken. Mr. Ruffe, surgeon, was promptly on the spot, and attended to the mother's injuries, when she was enabled to return to Lichfield the same evening. The remains of the unfortunate child were conveyed to the Tweeddale Arms Hotel, to await a coroner's inquest.

It is considered very fortunate no other casualties occurred ; and hopes are entertained that this sad affair will induce the railway company to erect a footbridge for passengers - a very necessary precaution against future painful episodes of this kind. Mr. Booth, step-father of the child, is well known at Tamworth, having stood the market with tinware for many years.

THE INQUEST. - GOVERNMENT INQUIRY - The inquest on the body of Lucy Ann Booth (6), who was run over and killed at the London and North-Western Railway Station, Tamworth, on Monday evening last, under circumstances recorded above, was opened by T. Dewes, Esq., coroner for North Warwickshire, at the Tweedale Arms Hotel, on Wednesday, Mr. Thomas Bull acting as foreman of the jury. Inspector Woolridge watched the proceedings on behalf of the Railway Company.

John Mason, hosier, of Nottingham, the deceased child's grandfather, identified the body.

Samuel Clark deposed he was a fishmonger, residing at Lichfield. He went to the Cannock Chase Manoeuvres on Monday, and got in the excursion at Rugeley, by direction of the guard, at 8 p.m., to return home. Mrs. Booth and her two daughters came by the same train. The train did not stop at Lichfield, and they were brought on to Tamworth, arriving there at half-past eight o'clock. It was dark, and the train did not stop at the station or the siding platform, but was brought up on the main line opposite the water tank, several yards beyond. No one told the passengers to get out, and witness imagined some accident had happened from feeling the brakes being put on with great power, and seeing the signals at work.

Witness and many others got out, and he then heard the guard say, "All sit still, and we'll run you back." Those that were out did not return to their seats, and were crossing the rails to get to the down platform to go to Lichfield, when witness saw the express coming, and cried out "Hold back ; the express is here." Thirty or forty people were on the line, and would have been smashed had he not called out; two seconds later and they would have all been swept away. When he cried out Mrs. Booth was near him on the rail, with the deceased in her arms. He caught hold of her dress and said "The express," and she turned back to get out of danger.

At that moment the train dashed past, and the child was struck out of her arms. Mrs. Booth fell on top of the witness, and both went down together. As they lay her head was within two or three inches of the steps of the carriages, and had she moved her head would have been cut clean off. When the train was gone he rose and lifted Mrs. Booth up thinking her dead. She was not injured excepting on the hand, and having recovered from her fright she cried out twice, "Where's my child!" He looked round, and found it close to them dead.

The Coroner here interposed, and said the evidence of the last witness was very important, and revealed such facts that he did not think he would be doing his duty if he did not give official intimation to the Board of Trade of the accident and its surroundings. He considered it was very wrong to bring the train up away from the platform on the main line as in the present instance, and to allow passengers to get out and cross the rails with an express due on a dark night. If the jury determined on an adjournment he thought the sooner they did it the better. An official would then be sent down from the Board of Trade to inquire into the matter - probably, Colonel Rich or Captain Tyler - and hear the evidence of the witness viva voce.

It seemed to him there was gross negligence somewhere, and he thought it very necessary that the case should be thoroughly sifted both for the sake of the company as well as the public, for the accident might result in a criminal charge against some one. - The jury fully acquiesced in the recommendation of the Coroner, and the inquiry was adjourned till two p.m. on Wednesday, the 17th inst., the several witnesses being bound over to give evidence on that occasion.

The adjourned inquest touching the death of Lucy Ann Booth (6), who was killed at the Tamworth Station on the evening of the 8th inst., was held at the Tweeddale Arms Hotel by T.Dewes, Esq., jun., Deputy-coroner, on Wednesday last.

Mr. Dewes said the particulars of the accident had been forwarded to the Board of Trade, and one of their Inspectors - Captain Tyler - had signified his intention of attending officially to inquire into the matter. Captain Tyler had subpoenaed six of the Railway officials as witnesses, but his engagements prevented him attending before next Tuesday. He therefore proposed that the inquiry be again adjourned until that day, and that the next meeting take place in the large room of the Castle Hotel, or at the Town Hall, so that the public might be admitted.

Some of the jury said they had important engagements on Tuesday, but at length yielded to the suggestions of the Coroner, and the inquiry was further adjourned to 2 p.m. on Tuesday the 23rd inst., at the Castle Hotel.

OFFICIAL INQUIRY

An adjourned inquiry, touching the death of Lucy Ann Booth (6), who was killed by an express train at the London and North-Western Railway Station, Tamworth, on the 8th inst., was held by T. Dewes, Esq., Coroner for North Warwickshire, at the Castle Hotel, Tamworth, on Tuesday last.

Captain Tyler attended on behalf of the Board of Trade to investigate the circumstances leading to the accident, with the object of ascertaining its causes, and whether the safety of the public had been sufficiently provided for by the railway company.

Mr. R.W. Nevill represented the father of deceased - Edwin Booth, plane maker, of Nottingham ; and Mr. Frank Adcock, solicitor, of Euston Station, London, watched the proceedings on behalf of the London and North-Western Railway Company.

The Coroner said he had seen Captain Tyler, who would shortly be present. The Captain had been at the Railway Station, taking the evidence of the various officials, which would materially lessen the duties of that Court. The principal point for the consideration of the jury, after hearing the witnesses, would be to determine if any and what negligence had arisen to cause the accident.

They were all agreed that negligence had been committed on the part of some one, but whether of a criminal character to justify them in attaching the serious charge of manslaughter against any one, the jury would be better able to decide after the evidence had been given.

He might just state, for the satisfaction of the jury, that he met Mr. Moon, chairman of the London and North-Western Railway Company, at Tamworth Station, and had inspected with him the premises, and that gentleman appeared quite convinced of the necessity of a foot bridge, and he believed such would be erected at once.

The examination of the witness Samuel Clarke was resumed. In addition to the evidence given by him at the last inquiry, he stated, in answer to the Coroner, that he was led to understand when he got in at Rugeley that the train would not stop at Tamworth, but would stop at Lichfield. That information was given to him by the guard and porter as the doors of the carriage were being closed.

There was "any amount" of people returning from Cannock Chase and there was great confusion at Rugeley Station, and a great number of people inquired if the train was to stop at Lichfield, and they were answered in the affirmative, being also told it would not stop at Tamworth.

When witness and others got out of the train at Tamworth Station, under the bridge, they heard some one shout, "Keep your seats, and we will back you to the platform." He heard one of the porters say, "Keep close to the edge, the express is coming." Upon that he called out that the express was coming, and in a moment it swept by. There were many people on the line at the time, and if he had not raised the alarm they would have all been swept away. The previous train that started from Rugeley went about ten minutes before the train in which witness was.

Cross-examined by Mr. Nevill : The express train passed through the station almost immediately after their train. The reason they went across the line was to get to the down platform to go by train back to Lichfield.

Lucy Booth, mother of the deceased, said about five minutes to eight she entered a train at Rugeley Station to go to Lichfield. There was great confusion at the station at Rugeley, and the station was greatly crowded. She was told by a porter at the station that the train was to stop at Lichfield, but the station master did not inform her to that effect. The train did not stop at Lichfield, but went on to Tamworth without stopping. As it passed through Tamworth station she felt the breaks applied, and the train stopped under the bridge near to the tank. She then heard a porter say, on opening the door, "Come out, you for Lichfield."

The Coroner remarked that that was an entirely new fact.

Witness (continuing) said as she was getting out she fell, owing to it being so dark, and she said to the guard, "What a shame it is to bring us out here." She did not hear the guard say, "Keep your seats, and I'll back you to the station."

After getting out, she was crossing the line with her child in her arms, when all at once she heard a cry raised that the express train was coming. Before she had time to turn round, she was knocked on the ground, being pulled back by witness Clarke. The child was swept away and killed, and her hand was struck by the engine and injured.

By the Jury: Clarke was in the same train, but not in the same carriage.

By Captain Tyler: She could not recognise the porter who told them to get out. She was confident it was a porter.

Mr. W. F. Downes, commercial traveller, said he was a passenger by the train, and took a ticket for Lichfield. He was distinctly told by several officials that the train would stop at Lichfield. There was great confusion at Rugeley Station at the time. The train did not stop at Lichfield, but went on to Tamworth. When they had got beyond the bridge at Tamworth Station the train stopped.

He stopped in the train for some minutes, and as it did not "back" he got out on to the line for the purpose of getting to the down platform to get back to Lichfield. Previous to getting out he did not hear anyone say, "Keep your seats, and I'll back you to the platform." He did not see any officials about excepting the station-master, whom he saw on the down platform.

By the Jury: He was not one of the first to get out of the carriages.

In reply to Mr. Nevill, witness said he was sitting next the window, and if any cry of "Keep your seats" had been raised, he should have heard it. Cross-examined by Mr. Tyler, witness said he got on to the line under the impression that the train was not going back to the platform. He saw other people cross before the deceased's mother.

By Mr. Adcock: He knew that if a train overshot the platform it was customary to bring it back.

Captain Tyler then read before the Court a description of the station, and the statements of the officials employed by the London and North-Western Railway Company, in reference to the accident. The following evidence was then given in answer to Captain Tyler and the Coroner: -

John Rochford, engine-driver, Northampton, in the employ of the London and North-Western Railway Company, said, on the 8th inst. he drove an excursion train from Northampton to Rugeley. He left Northampton about nine o'clock in the morning. On that journey they did not stop at Lichfield, but stopped at Atherstone in consequence of written orders at Nuneaton.

Previous to starting back from Rugeley at night Mr. Waine, the locomotive inspector, asked him if he had received any orders. He told him he had not, and then Mr. Waine told him not to go until he had received some instructions from him. Just before starting Mr. Waine told him that Atherstone would be his first "stop." He was motioned at Lichfield by the officials, but there were no passengers on the platform. As he came through Tamworth Station a number of red lights were held out to him, including one out of the guard's van. He was unable to stop until he came to the level crossing.

John Salmon, guard of the train, said he was led to understand that the train would stop at Lichfield. They did not stop at Lichfield as they went in the morning. Finding that they were going through Tamworth Station without stopping, and having no means of communication with the driver, he hung a red light out of his van, which was noticed by one of the officials on the platform, who held a red light in front of the engine as it passed. This caused the train to pull up, but not until it had passed the platform.

Joseph Entwistle, assistant district superintendent, London, said he was on duty at Rugeley on the day in question. The station was very crowded, and great confusion prevailed. The consequence was that people crowded into their wrong trains, and the general orders he gave to the drivers were that they should stop at the same stations as they had stopped at in the morning. He did know if he gave any particular instructions with respect to the train in question.

John Robinson, station-master at Rugeley, said he was on duty on the night of the 8th, and he told the driver to stop at Atherstone, not telling him, however, that it was the first place he would have to stop at. He told the guard he would have to stop at Atherstone in addition to the other stations mentioned in the time-table. He was not aware that the train did not stop at Lichfield in the morning, as it was supposed to do, and thought that the driver would stop there at night.

Edwin Waine, locomotive inspector, Crewe, said he was present when the excursion train left on the evening of the 8th. Previous to giving the driver, Rochford, instructions about returning home, he asked him where he stopped on the down journey, in the morning. Rochford told him, mentioning Atherstone, but not Lichfield. As they were standing together, before the train started, he heard Mr. Robinson, the station-master at Rugeley, tell the guard and driver to stop at Atherstone. The driver then said to him (witness), "Is Atherstone the first stop?" and witness, understanding that the train did not stop at Lichfield in the morning, and not knowing that there were any Lichfield passengers in the train, said "Yes."

Captain Tyler said that evidently Mr. Wains was misled by the driver not having stopped at Lichfield in the morning ; and as he did not ask the station-master if there were any Lichfield passengers in the train, he thought it would be the same at night as in the morning. Seeing also a number of passengers in the carriage for Atherstone, he instructed the driver that Atherstone would be his first stoppage.

The evidence of the porters and other officials at Tamworth Station, which had been taken by Captain Tyler, but threw no light on the matter than had already been given by other witnesses, was at the first stage of the inquiry read over, and the Coroner and jury decided it was unnecessary to hear it again viva voce.

The Coroner then summed up the case. He referred to the clear manner in which the witnesses for the railway company had given their evidence, no contradiction having arisen. It had been admitted by everyone that there was great confusion at Rugeley Station, and they, as practical men, must know that in such times of holiday making such occurrences were always liable to occur in railway travelling.

They had two points to consider - whether there was any negligence on the part of the railway company, and whether that negligence was might be termed merely culpable, or was it criminal negligence, which might justify them in returning a verdict of manslaughter. For his own part, he failed to see where any such negligence had arisen, whilst he could not help thinking there was a good deal of misapprehension.

The room was then cleared, and after about ten minutes' consideration, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death ;" the Foreman, at the same time, stating that a few of the jury were of the opinion that Waine was to blame for not making proper inquiries about the train.

Captain Tyler, whilst not wishing to dictate to the jury, reminded them of the fact that the train did not stop at Lichfield in the morning, which led Waine to understand that it would not stop there on the return journey. He thought that that was of great importance, but it would have been a deal better if he had asked the station-master whether it was going to stop there that night.

The Coroner coincided with the remarks of Captain Tyler, and the Foreman, after consultation with the jury, announced that the censure would be withdrawn. A vote of thanks to Captain Tyler for his attendance and valuable aid, and the care he had manifested throughout the proceedings, closed the inquiry.

BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS, Wednesday, Oct. 8th. Before I. Bradbury (Mayor), and F. Ruffe, Esqrs.

ASSAULT. - John Cunningham, brazier and tinman, Lichfield, was charged with assaulting Edwin Booth, father of the child killed at the Railway Station on the 8th ult. Mr. Atkins appeared for Booth, and said this was no doubt a premeditated attack upon Booth, whose wife had left him and was living with the defendant (Cunningham), at Lichfield.

At the opening of the inquest on the body of the child killed, it was insinuated to the jury that Booth was dead, with the intent, no doubt, of their sueing the railway company for the loss of the child. The complainant was present at the adjourned inquest, and at the termination of it went to Mr. Sanders' public-house, when the defendant followed him and committed the assault.

He then called evidence. Edwin Booth, the complainant, said that after the inquest on the body of his child he went to Mr. Sanders', and was taking tea with the landlord and landlady and her brother, when the complainant came in with another man a stranger to him, and asked for two pints of ale.

Directly after several other men, also strangers to him, came in, when defendant began to make offensive remarks evidently intended for him, and one of the men who came in with the defendant pointed over his shoulder to him. The landlady of the house then beckoned him out, and he was going to the door, by the defendant, when he struck him on the back of his head and knocked him down ; he got up and ran into the entry, when he was followed by the defendant and his party, who made an attack upon him.

The defendant knocked him down, and while on the ground he and his party kicked him, the defendant saying, "I will kill you." He called for assistance and was rescued by the landlord. He felt the effects of the injuries he received for several days. This evidence was confirmed by Mrs. Sanders and her brother William Kesterton.

For the defence Cunningham said he went into Sanders' public-house not knowing the complainant was there, and while he was drinking some ale he had called for, the complainant struck him, and all he did afterwards was done in self defence.

He called John Wood, miner, and John Mason, grandfather of the child who was killed on the railway. They both confirmed his statement, the latter saying that he saw Booth draw a clasp knife out of his pocket as he went out of the house, and he produced a Nottingham newspaper which he said would show that Booth was under a bond for three months to keep the peace towards him.

The Bench said such evidence was not admissible, and after consulting for a few minutes, fined the defendant 40s., and 39s. 6d. costs, which he paid.

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WEDNESDAY. - Before the Mayor and F. Ruffe, Esq.

AN HEN-PECKED HUSBAND. - John Cunningham, tinner, of Lichfield, was charged with assaulting Edwin Booth, plane-maker, of Nottingham, on the 23rd September last. - Mr. G. Atkins prosecuted, and in opening the case said complainant was the husband of the woman injured and father of the child killed by the recent railway accident at Tamworth Station. He attended the inquest on his child on the 23rd ult., and afterwards went to Mr. George Sanders', the Staffordshire Yeoman Inn, Market Street.

Cunningham followed him there and assaulted and kicked him in a most brutal manner. The cause of defendant's behaviour he believed arose from the fact that he was living with the complainant's wife, who left her home at Nottingham 12 months' ago and had since that time cohabited with him. The facts of the case he should be able to prove most conclusively, and he hoped the bench would punish defendant in a manner he so richly deserved for his cowardly and unprovoked assault on complainant.

Edwin Booth, sworn, said he was a plane maker living at Nottingham, and was the husband of Lucy Booth, and the father of the child recently killed at the Tamworth Station. He attended the inquest on his child on the 23rd ult., and afterwards went to the Yeoman Inn, where he was lodging. He was having tea in the tap-room with Mr. and Mrs. Sanders and their brother Wm. Kesterton, when defendant and another man came in and called for a glass of ale. Seven or eight more men followed in and defendant passed insolent remarks and tried to pick a quarrel with witness. All the men were evidently defendant's minions, and one of them pointed at witness and began to chaff.

Mrs. Sanders motioned to witness to leave them, and he got up to go out. He had not spoken a word to them, but in passing defendant the latter struck him a blow on the back of the head and knocked him down saying, "You b ___ , that's what I meant to give you." Witness jumped up and tried to escape out of the back door. Defendant and the others followed him into the entry, and one of them said to Cunningham, "Go into him Jack you b ___ , if you cannot do it we can."

Defendant then advanced and caught hold of him and struck him repeatedly, the others also striking him. When the others found defendant could not "lick" him, they then began to strike and kick him. Defendant and witness in the scuffle fell; they helped the former up but kept him on the ground whilst defendant kept kicking him and exclaiming, "You b ___ , I'll murder you." Witness called for Mr. Sanders saying, "George, pull them off, they mean doing me," and someone then came and released him.

The police were sent for, but said they could not act in the matter. He was much hurt and lost two days work through the occurrence. This was the third time defendant had assaulted him. Witness's wife was now living with defendant at Lichfield. Defendant had a wife living, at Birmingham. He did not provoke the assault in the slightest degree.

Cross-examined ; I did not get up to strike you. I never drew a knife to you ; I had no knife in my possession. - Mrs. Elizabeth Sanders and Wm. Kesterton corroborated complainant's evidence.

Defendant in answer to the charge said the dispute first originated through Booth charging him with stealing his watch which was quite untrue. When at Sanders', Booth commenced the row and deliberately struck him first and in the entry used a knife, and he merely took his own part in self-defence. In support of this statement he called John Wood who said, he accompanied defendant to the "Staffordshire Yeoman" to have a glass of ale. Some more men followed in soon after. Booth was there having tea.

After being in four or five minutes Booth got up and walked straight up to defendant and raised his arm as if to strike him. Witness did not see if a blow was struck. Booth then went into the entry with defendant to have it out, and directly after he met Booth coming through the doorway and he ran up-stairs. Another man followed and said, "Where is that b ___ , he's struck me with a knife in the hand." Defendant came in shortly afterwards with his face scratched and bleeding.

John Mason, hosier, of Nottingham, complainant's father-in-law, was next examined for the defence. He said he was present at the row, which Booth provoked by first putting his elbow into defendant's face when going out of the tap-room. They then began to fight, and he saw Booth draw a knife in the entry and stab one of the other men in the hand. Witness had Booth bound over at Nottingham to keep the peace three months ago for assaulting him. He was very handy with the knife and had attacked him with one three times.

Cross-examined ; My daughter, Mrs. Booth, lives with the defendant, not as his wife, but as his housekeeper.

Mrs. Sanders was recalled to explain the knife theory. She was positive no knife was drawn or used or she must have seen it. The row occurred at 6.15, and the entry was quite light. Booth most decidedly did not provoke the quarrel at all.

The bench after consultation said the charge had been clearly proved, and fined defendant £2 and costs £1 19s. 6d., or two months' imprisonment, with hard labour. The money was at once paid.