Hi Kammy and All.
Chronicle and Echo Tuesday February 18th 1941 Pg 3
MYSTERY FALL FROM
TRAIN ON WAY TO
DAUGHTER'S WEDDING
"NO EVIDENCE OF SUICIDE" SAYS
NORTHANTS CORONER
A MAN found dead on Saturday
on the railway line at Welton,
near Daventry, was killed on the
way to his daughter's wedding.
This was revealed at the inquest
at Welton yesterday.
In recording an open verdict the
Mid-Northamptonshire Coroner (Mr T.
Faulkner Gammage) said the circum-
stances were particularly tragic, and he
expressed sympathy with the relatives.
There was not the slightest suggestion
of suicide.
The inquest was on James Palmer
(50) commissionaire, of 13, Adelaide-
road, Edgeley, Stockport.
It was believed he had fallen from a train.
Margaret Palmer of 37, Holmstall-
avenue, Edgeware, said that Palmer
was her father. He had written to her
regularly and always seemed happy
and she knew nothing that might
worry him at all.
RETURN TICKET
"The last letter I had was on Wed-
nesday" she said "and in it he said
he would be in London on Friday even-
ing or Saturday morning. He was
coming to my sister's wedding on Satur-
day.
We were expecting him, but on Sat-
turday night the police called and told
us what had happened.
Witness added that her mother was
living at Mullingar (Ireland). Her
father had been living apart from her
mother for about 14 years.
Police Inspector Harry Wheeler , of
Daventry, said that on Saturday, in
response to a telephone message, he
went to Welton Station and accom-
panied the stationmaster to a point on
the railway three-quarters of a mile
south of the station where he saw the
body lying on the six-foot way. Pal-
mer had received multiple injuries and
his skull was smashed.
An identity card and a return ticket
from Stockport to London was found
in Palmer's clothes.
ALL DOORS IN ORDER
The state of the clothing indicated
that the body had been lying there
throughout the night.
William John Gray stationmaster at
Welton Station, said that the body was
found following a message from the
driver of the 8.40 a.m. Rugby to London
local train who had seen it on the line.
The 2.45 p.m. Blackpool to Euston
train had passed through Welton at 8.39
p.m. "This train was subsequently
searched and all doors and locks were
found to be in good order. No report
had been received of any door having
been found open on this train.
It was ascertained that this train had
had to stop at a point just before
Bletchley, and it was possible that an
open door might have swung to as the
train pulled up.
The train was a corridor train.
The Coroner said he was satisfied
there was no evidence of suicide- rather
the reverse - as Palmer was on the way
to his daughter's wedding.
In the absence of any evidence from
the railway company as to the opening
of any door, he would record an open
verdict.
"It is particularly tragic" he said.
Sandy
