Old news from Armidale and New England

Friday 20 May 1892, The Brisbane Courier

SELLS’S CIRCUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

TRIAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER.

ACQUITTAL OF THE ENGINE-DRIVER.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

(From our own correspondent.)

Sydney, May 19.

At the Glen Innes Quarter Sessions to-day John Michael Coleman was charged with the manslaughter of Archie Banks, an employee in Sells’s Circus, who met his death in the railway accident near Armidale on the 25th April. The Crown relied for a conviction upon the fact that the accused neglected to comply with certain regulations for pinning down the brakes when descending steep grades. For the defence it was contended that the accused had taken all necessary precautions when descending the grade and had sufficient brake power to control the train: and the accident actually occurred through the driver of the preceding train stopping on a sharp curve in a cutting to pick up his brakes. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the Crown did not proceed with the charge against Kelly, the guard of the train.