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SHOCKING DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN PORTSMOUTH LICENSED VICTUALLER ON SATURDAY.
We deeply regret to have to announce the death under painful circumstances, of Frederick Stratton, licensed victualler, of the Royal Albert Tavern, Albert-road, Southsea, who was killed on the railway near Cosham. It appears that the deceased, who owned a farm in the vicinity, was crossing the lines at Highgrove, when the 1.30 p.m. train from Portsmouth to Brighton coming up knocked him down, horribly mutilating his body. Death must have been instantaneous. The body was at once removed to the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, where it will remain until the holding of an inquest, which will probably take place on Monday. The deceased, who was a very old inhabitant of Eastney, will be deeply lamented.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 20 October, 1879 source
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FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY. — A shocking accident occurred at a railway crossing, between Copnor and Cosham, on Saturday afternoon, by which a well-known and highly respected, retired licensed victualler, of Southsea, lost his life. The deceased, Mr. Frederick Stratton was about 60 years of age. A few years ago he retired from the Bold Forrester Tavern, Southsea, to take Highgrove Farm, near Hilsea. On Saturday last, at about twenty minutes to two in the afternoon, while passing from one field to another, he had to cross the line of rails which at that point runs through the farms, when just at that time the London and Brighton train, which leaves Portsmouth for Brighton at 1.30 p.m., came along at nearly full speed, and striking the unfortunate man on the head killed him instantly, the body falling across the rails. Both legs were nearly cut off. As the sad event took place without the bounds of the borough, the body was removed to the Coach and Horses Tavern, Hilsea, to await an inquest, which will be held by the county coroner, Mr. E. Goble.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 22 October 1879 source
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THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY AT HILSEA.
Last evening the Southampton Coroner (Mr. E. Harfield) acting for the County Coroner (Mr. Edgar Goble) held an inquest at the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, touching the death of Frederick Stratton, aged 52, of the Royal Albert Tavern, Albert-road, Southsea. Mr. Wainscott, watched the proceedings on behalf of the family of the deceased, and Mr. Greenwood (the superintendent of the Joint Railway Company) watched the case on behalf of the railway authorities.
William Bowley, a labourer in the employ of the deceased, living at the Dock Mill, Albert-road, deposed that the deceased was the proprietor of the above mentioned house, and that he had a farm called Gatecombe Farm at the back of Hilsea barracks. Witness was working on the farm on Saturday afternoon last when the deceased came to him and asked him what he was doing, witness answered him and the deceased then left and went in the direction of the railway which passes through the farm, as witness thought with the intention of going to some other workmen who were engaged on the other side. The deceased tried to open the “occupation” gate, but was unable to do so, it being locked, and he then climbed over it. Witness saw the deceased fall as he crossed the line. At this time a train was was passing on the down line on its way to Portsmouth. After the train had passed witness looked on the other side of the line, and, not seeing the deceased, he went to the spot and found him lying on the line quite dead. The wheels of the train had passed over him, cutting his legs completely off, the body being some distance down the line. Witness did not hear any whistle from the engine, neither did he notice that the train slackened speed after the accident. If the deceased had not stumbled there would have been sufficient time for him to have got safely across the line. The line was straight for about three-quarters of a mile from the direction in which the train came, and witness thought that the driver must have seen him.
By Jurors: Witness was sure the deceased fell before the train struck him. When the deceased fell he was in front of the train about the distance of 150 yards from it. No whistle was blown, nor was there any slackening of speed. The deceased (who suffered from the gout and walked a little lame in consequence) was perfectly sober when witness spoke to him, and he did not complain of feeling giddy.
By Mr. Wainscott: There were some large rough stones on the line where the deceased fell, and it was quite probable that he might have cut his head with one of them when he fell.
A Juror: I was on the spot soon afterwards, and saw that the deceased had a wound on the head, which led me to suppose that the deceased was stunned by the fall and could not get up.
George Salisbury, a labourer, in the employ of the deceased, living at 3, Goodwood-street, Albert-road, said that on the afternoon of the day in question he was called by the last witness after the accident, and helped to remove the remains to the Coach and Horses.
John Griffin, a plate layer, in the employ of the Railway Company, deposed that he resided at about 150 yards from the scene of the accident. On Saturday afternoon last he went to the spot, and found the deceased lying dead.
By Mr. Greenwood: There were five “occupation” crossings in witness’s length, and he kept them in repair. The crossing at the spot where the accident occurred was properly made up, and there were no large stones as described by the previous witness.
John Chandler deposed that he was an engine driver in the employ of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway Company stationed at Portsmouth. On Saturday afternoon last he was in charge of the train which passed through Gatecombe Farm at 1.35 p.m. As he approached the crossing in question he found the engine strike something, and asked his fireman what it was, and the latter remarked that it must have been a stone, and witness looked and saw a large stone fly away from the engine at the time. Witness was looking out from one side for the Copnor signal, and his fireman was looking out on the other, but they did not see the deceased lying on the line, and if witness had he would not have been able to have pulled up under 500 or 600 yards, notwithstanding that the train was only travelling at the rate of 25 or 30 miles per hour. Witness was of opinion that the deceased must have attempted to cross the line as the train was close upon him.
Mr. Greenwood informed the jury that with the Westinghouse brake and all the other patent brakes and latest improvements it was impossible to pull up under three hundred yards or nearly that distance.
The Coroner having summed up the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death,” and did not attribute any blame to the engine-driver.
Mr. Wainscott, on behalf of the relatives of the deceased, complained to the Acting Coroner of the delay in holding the inquiry.
The Coroner said that Mr. Goble was away and that his deputy was ill and that the moment he (the coroner) was applied he took steps for the holding of the inquest.
We are informed that the deceased will be interred in the Highland-road Cemetery, Eastney, on Thursday afternoon next, when it is expected that large numbers of the Oddfellows, Freemasons, and others will follow.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 22 October 1879 source
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Mr. Stratton was a man of more than ordinary size, and the shocking manner in which the body was mutilated rendered speedy attention at the hands of loving friends more than ordinarily necessary; and yet owing to the working of our social machinery—which certainly seems to be out of joint—his body was left where it was conveyed by the railway people from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon without anyone being allowed to touch or otherwise interfere with it
— Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 22 October 1879 source