The inquest on the victims of the Shrewsbury accident was
concluded on Wednesday, when the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death," adding that they were unanimously of opinion that the brake-power of the train was insufficient. The evidence given clearly showed that the train, just before the accident, ran past the signals at danger at three times the usual speed. In the opinion of the medical witnesses, there was no indication that the driver was not perfectly sober at the time. During the course of the Board of Trade inquiry, which is still sitting, it was admitted that the driver, Martin, had during the whole of his career been twice reported for overshooting signals, and it was not denied by a locomotive superintendent of the London and North-Western Company that twenty-eight men had been suspended for running past signals between June and August in the present year. The examination of the wrecked engine by a Board of Trade official revealed nothing amiss with its mechanism, and showed that the brake and reversing gear had been fully applied. The immediate cause of the accident—high speed while travelling on a sharp curve—is clearly established. What led to the maintenance of such a. speed can never be known, as both the men on the footplate were killed; but it is obvious that to eliminate the risk due to the " human factor " in such cases, either such curves must be got rid of on main lines or an extra man be employed on the engine.
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