From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday, 21 June, 1845. Price 5d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

On Saturday evening last, an inquest was held at Newman's “Terminus Inn,” adjacent to the Railway Station, before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner for the borough, to enquire into the circumstances attending the death of John Starling, a fisherman of Folkestone, nearly 60 years of age, who had died while being conveyed from Folkestone to Dover in one of the trains on the South Eastern Line. The Jury having been sworn, they proceeded to view the body, and on their return the following evidence was adduced:-

Henry Pain, labourer, of Buckland:- I was at Folkestone on Saturday last, and left the place about 11 o'clock in the morning, intending to return to Dover by the train which leaves the Folkestone station shortly after 11. I my road to the station, I saw the deceased, who was also walking thither. I thought I had plenty of time to reach the station before the arrival of the train; but observing its approach, and fearing that I should be too late, I commenced running. The deceased also ran, and we both reached the station in time. We took our tickets, (3rd class,) and entered the same carriage. When in the carriage the deceased made no complaint, and did not appear exhausted. While we were in the first tunnel (the Martello) the deceased drooped, as if sleeping, on which I rubbed his hands. He then fell on his knees, but was supported by another person in the carriage, who saw him fall, and I again rubbed his hands, and his wrists, but found no warmth, and perceived no beating of his pulse. On arriving at the Dover station I assisted in removing deceased from the carriage. He was then dead. No delay was experienced in his removal at the station, and he was taken into one of the waiting rooms, where every necessary attention was promptly given by the railway officials, and a medical gentleman instantly sent for. In coming to the Folkestone station the deceased might have run a greater distance than I did, as he was behind me: I ran but a few rods.

Mr. Coleman, jun., surgeon:- On Saturday last, at about 12 o'clock, I was called to attend deceased, and found him lying on the floor. Life was extinct at the time. I opened a vein in the arm, and obtained a small quantity of blood. From these limited premises I cannot state the cause of death, nor can I give a decisive opinion thereon. It might have resulted from an obstruction in one or more of the strictures carrying on circulation. I am led to this opinion from the suddenness of the deceased's death, and other circumstances; and also from his having been subject to a difficulty of breathing for the last two years, which information I received from his relatives. Death might have ensued from concussion to the brain, produced by the violent exercise on the part of the deceased previous to his reaching the station at Folkestone. I observed no marks of violence on the body, and consider the death as purely natural.

The evidence being concluded, the Coroner summed up, and the Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of “Died by the visitation of God.”

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 22 January, 1848. Price 5d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An inquest was held on Monday, at the "Terminus Inn", Beach Street, before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner for the Borough, on the body of Elizabeth Russell Collins, a child aged eight years. The jury having been sworn, and a foreman appointed, then proceeded to view the body, and on their return to the inquest room the examination of witnesses was commenced, and which adduced the following evidence:-

John Cochraine, permit officer in the Excise, deposed: I reside at the Permit Office, 160, Snargate Street, Dover. In the early part of the present month - the day I forget - I heard violent screams. Being alarmed, I looked out at the window, thinking the noise proceeded from some one in the street; but seeing nothing there, I opened the office door, and looking along the passage I observed a great light in the kitchen. I instantly ran thither, and there saw a child, whom I knew not, with her clothes on fire. I snatched up a cloth which was lying on a chair, and, wrapping it around the child, extinguished the flames. Another child, about 12 years of age, sister of the deceased, and servant to Mrs. Whitty, a lodger of mine, was also present. The mouth, neck and arms of deceased were much burnt; the children were alone in the kitchen, Mrs. Whitty being away. I heard the screams about a quarter of an hour after entering the house, having just arrived from town. I told the child that was not burnt to go for its mother, which she did, and shortly after a woman came, and took deceased away.

Francis Collins, daughter of Richard Collins, mariner, of Dover, deposed: I am 13 years of age, and servant to Mrs. Whitty, who resides at the Permit Office. I have lived in her service about six months. On the 4th of January, my mistress being in London, I went home and fetched my little sister, the deceased, to keep me company. There being no fire in the kitchen, I lighted one. My sister, at the time of the accident, was warming her hands, and while turning to look at me her pinafore caught fire, upon which she screamed out violently. I tried to get the pinafore off, but could not; my sister then ran into the yard, and while there Mr. Cochrane came out, and with a mat extinguished the fire. Mr. Sankey and Mr. Lewis came in shortly after, and while they were attending to my sister's burns I ran for my mother, who returned with me, and a fly being procured, deceased was removed home in it.

Edward Sibbet, surgeon, deposed: On the 4th instant I was called to see deceased, and found her in bed, at her mother's house. On examining her, I found that both arms had been much burnt, from the shoulders to the wrists; and that the lower part of her, and front of her neck, has sustained similar injuries. The wounds had been dressed in a proper manner; and I continued in attendance upon her daily. On the 9th deceased was taken with relaxation of the bowels, attended with convulsions, and considerable discharge of blood. From that time she gradually sank until her death on the 12th instant. I do not attribute deceased's death immediately to the injuries she had received; but I am of opinion that the injuries did create such a constitution irritability, that death resulted therefrom, or as the consequence thereof.

Verdict:- That deceased, Elizabeth Russell Collins, died in consequence of injuries received by her clothes accidentally taking fire.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 10 June, 1854. Price 5d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An inquest was held last evening, at half-past seven o'clock before George T. Thompson, Esquire. Coroner of the Borough, touching the death of Mr. William Rogers, landlord of the "Terminus Inn," who was found dead in the morning, lying on his face in the bar of the house. It appeared that he had not retired to rest.

Verdict - Accidental suffocation by a fall.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 20 February, 1858. Price 5d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An enquiry took place on Tuesday evening, at seven o'clock, at the "Terminus Inn," Beach Street, Dover, before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner for the Borough, on the body of John Miller, a switchman, in the employ of the South Eastern Railway Company, who unfortunately met with his death while in the discharge of his duty at the south end of the Archcliff Fort tunnel. The particulars of this deplorable event will appear in the following evidence - the jury, previously to their viewing the body, having chosen Mr. Richard Bromley as their foreman.

Edward How, a labourer in the employ of the South Eastern Railway Company at the Dover station, deposed: This morning, about half-past ten, shortly after the arrival of the first down train, I was with the deceased in the Archcliff tunnel. I was on my way to my work, to take some ashes out of the pan of my engine; and he was going to attend to the points, to reverse an engine from the up to the down line. While in the tunnel, I heard a whistle of the engine, and said to the deceased, "Look out Miller, they are coming." I then left him, and stood in one of the archways between the up and the down line. He was in the up tunnel. In about a moment the empty carriage passed me by. As they passed, I saw the deceased, as it appeared to me, rush by me. I waited till the carriages had got out, and then I entered the tunnel, and perceived Miller lying on the metal nearest to where I was standing. His head and shoulders lay across the metal. I went to him, when he once moved his head, and shortly after he expired. I then went for assistance, and the body was removed into the goods' station. The carriages were propelled through the tunnel at the rate of about four or five miles an hour. I don't think the deceased was attempting to get upon the carriages, to ride upon them, when the accident happened. I do not know how it happened. There was plenty of room for the deceased to have stood between the metal and the wall, and had he remained there he would have been safe. The wheels of the carriage appeared to have passed between his neck and shoulders. The age of the deceased was 39 years.

Thomas Black: I am an engine driver, in the employ of the South eastern Railway Company, and was propelling the train in question through Archcliff Fort tunnel. I sounded the whistle, and was the witness How, who was standing on the side I was looking. The train was moving at a very slow speed - about three miles an hour.

There was no other evidence to produce; and the jury recorded: That the deceased was killed by a train of railway carriages while in motion.

Mr. E. T. Way, the Superintendent of the Dover Station, who was present to watch the proceedings, said deceased had been in the employ of the South Eastern company for 17 or 18 years. He belonged to Norwood, and followed the line downwards as it was completed from station to station. He (Mr. Way) could only account for the accident on the supposition that Miller tripped on the metal, and was unable to recover himself. deceased was a sober man, and a well-conducted servant of the Company.

We understand that deceased has left a wife and young family of five children, towards whose relief a subscription has already been commenced at the Dover station, where Mr. Way would feel a pleasure in receiving any donation from those charitably disposed towards the bereaved under their painfully distressing circumstances.