The inquiry into the circumstances
attending the death of John Jewell Symons, who resided at 4 Cambridge
Lane West, Plymouth and who was killed by the up London express
near Plympton on Wednesday evening was held at the Plympton St
Mary Union yesterday by the Deputy County Coroner (Mr. R .R. Rodd
Jun.).- Mr F.Millman watched the case for the Railway Company.
Mr. B. Maddock was chosen foreman of the Jury. - The wife of deceased
identified the remains and stated that her husband who was aged
52years left her home on Wednesday morning about half-past eight
stating that he should go into the country to see if he could
obtain some light employment. Deceased had suffered during the
winter from asthma and had complained of being unable to perform
his duties at the lawn tennis ground. He had never done anything
to lead her to suppose that he had intended to commit suicide.
Cross-examined: He was very near sighted and had had cataracts
removed from his eyes, but he was not deaf. - Dr. Ellery, surgeon
to the Great Western Railway Company, said the deceased had evidently
been destroyed by some violent concussion - very probably a train.
In his opinion death was instantaneous. - Wm. Horne labourer residing
at Plympton deposed to seeing the deceased at Plympton about four
o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. He was standing on the railway
bridge some distance from the station looking at an injured horse
in an adjoining field. About a quarter past eight he noticed deceased
in a field close to the railway bridge. He climbed the fence and
went down the steps to the line, along which he walked towards
Plymouth. Witness fearing something would happen, looked out over
the bridge when he saw deceased standing still looking up and
down the line. Just then Mr Parker crossed the bridge, and witness
said to him. "There's a man down there; I think he means
something." Mr Parker told the deceased to get out of the
way, and he then walked towards Plympton. Just then the train
came up, and the man fell right in front of it, his body being
cut to pieces. Thomas John Parker, labourer corroborated. When
he called to deceased and told him he was in danger as the signal
was down for a train to pass up on that side, the man made no
reply, but appeared to hear him, as he held up his hand. He did
not see deceased struck by the train. - Mr W. Wills inspector
of Plympton Station, said the up mail due about 8.30 pm. was stopped
at Plympton on Wednesday evening by the driver. Who reported that
a man had been run over just below the lower siding. The driver
stated that he saw the man and blew his whistle but there was
no opportunity of pulling up. - P.C.Facey said the legs were severed
from the trunk, and the head was smashed open. - The coroner in
summing up said that from the evidence of the witnesses Horne
and Parker no doubt the Jury would Conclude that the deceased
had committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.
- The jury suggested that an ambulance should be provided for
the district and the coroner promised to communicate with the
Plympton Sanitary Authority asking them to provide one.