Sarah Emmerson

Sarah Emmerson died after leaving a train in motion.

She was found injured on the Great Central Railway near to the Conisbrough Tunnel on the evening of Monday 26 June 1905.

She had been returning by train to Sheffield on the Doncaster train and had fallen out just before the train had entered the Conisbrough Tunnel.

After she fell out the driver of the train received a signal by the communication cord but didn't stop the train until it arrived at Conisborough owing to the danger of stopping in the tunnel.

After Sarah Emmerson was found on the line, she was taken to the Montagu Hospital in Mexborough where she died the following evening, Tuesday 27 June 1905.

The doctor who attended to Sarah Emmerson when she was first brought to Conisbrough Railway Station at about 10pm said that she was unconscious and bleeding from the mouth and nose. He added that she was paralysed on the left arm and leg and had several wounds that were full of dirt and coal dust.

Sarah Emmerson died about 20 hours after she was taken to Montagu Hospital, at about 6.30pm on Tuesday 27 June 1905.

Her death was said to have been due to injury to the brain, probably brought about by a fracture of the skull. The doctor that examined her said that he thought that all of her wounds might have been caused by her falling from the train. He said that he didn't have a chance to speak to Sarah Emmerson to find out how her injuries were caused as she never regained consciousness, but said that when he examined her body he found no signs of assault and added that her injuries were consistent with her either falling or jumping from the train.

The only other person that had been in the carriage with Sarah Emmerson was a man from Mexborough who worked at the GCR Plant Works. He said that he had gone to Doncaster that day to attend a volunteer drill and that he didn't know Sarah Emmerson. He said that he caught the 9.50pm train back from Doncaster and got into a third class carriage and saw Sarah Emmerson sitting in the left-hand corner with her back to the engine saying that he passed her and sat on the opposite corner at the far end of the carriage, adding that nobody else got in.

He said that he asked Sarah Emmerson whether it was too draughty for her with the window open but said that she didn't reply.

He said that he was reading an excursion bill as the train was passing through the Wharmsworth Cutting when he heard a click of the door. He said that he then looked up and saw Sarah Emmerson standing on the foot-board. He said that there was a light on in the carriage and that he went to try and pull her in but could not get hold of her, saying that he just touched her, but not sufficient to have pushed her. He said that he was of the opinion that Sarah Emmerson had slipped off the footboard although he added that he really couldn't say definitely and noted that no words were spoken.

He said that after she fell that he immediately pulled the communication cord but said that the train didn't stop until it got to Conisbrough station.

After the coroner heard the man's evidence, he asked him whether he could throw any more light on the affair, stating, 'Here was a single healthy young woman in the carriage, who would not run away from a well-conducted young man without some reason, though the reason might be groundless'.

It was heard that the man had got into the carriage in a hurry and that from what he saw of Sarah Emmerson that she was sober, well-conducted and composed. The man said that he did not see her rise from her seat or open the door as he was reading the excursion bill. He said that beyond asking Sarah Emmerson about the draught that he didn't speak to her or try to interfere with her whilst going through Wharmsworth cutting, which he admitted would have been a favourable place. He added that he could not say how she actually left the train and that he would say that she appeared to be trying to get out of his way. He added that if he had seen her getting up to open the door that he might have been able to save her from jumping from the train.

He added that he touched the alarm directly after Sarah Emmerson fell, but didn't think of doing so before when she was standing on the footboard.

He added that he did not see whether Sarah Emmerson had had an umbrella or parcel with her when she was on the train but said that there was nothing in the compartment after she left.

He admitted that he had had a bayonet with him at the time but said that he didn't take it out of the scabbard. He added that Sarah Emmerson might have seen his bayonet when he lifted it up when he took his seat.

Her father said that Sarah Emmerson was a happy girl and that she had never shown any signs of depression. He said that she was timid and not hysterical and that as far as he knew she had no reason to get rid of herself. He also said that he had two other daughters and that neither of them were hysterical, but the coroner said that he had received two anonymous letters stating that the two daughters in question were hysterical and very strange in their ways.

When the coroner summed up he said that it was one of those cases that was totally and entirely devoid of foul play and said that as to why Sarah Emmerson had got out of the train would, in all probability, never be known. He said that if it were found that the young man on the train with her had contributed to her death by an improper word or deed that it would be inquired into by the magistrates.

As such, he said that the jury could only bring in a verdict in accordance with the evidence and had better return an open verdict which they then did.