James Henry TILBROOK [2255]

  General Notes:

SAGHS Birth Registrations database
Surname:TILBROOK
Given Names:James Henry
Date of Birth:14-Dec-1867
Gender:M
Father:David John TILBROOK
Mother:Mary Sophia SMART
Birth Residence:Brighton
District:Adelaide
Book/Page:60/77


1904 SA Death 299/410 TILBROOK James Henry undefined Adelaide (Resided: Brighton)


Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Sat 30 Jan 1904 Page 31
THE PLYMPTON RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
CORONER'S INQUEST. On Wednesday morning at the Elephant and Castle Hotel, West-terrace, the City. Coroner (Dr. W. Ramsay Smith) held an in quest on the body of James Henry Tilbrook, who was lulled by; the Glenelg train at the Plympton crossing on Monday evening. David Tilbrook, limeburner, of Brighton, said the deceased was his son and was 36 years of age. He had good sight and hearing, and was a sober, careful man. The deceased was accustomed to driving, and he was in his own vehicle at the time of the accident. The horse was a quiet one. James McEntee, engine-driver, of Glenelg, said he was driving the 7 p.m. train front the Victoria-square station on Monday. He challenged the first Plympton crossing, and on passing over it he challenged the second one at a distance of about 250 yards. Almost immediately afterwards, and when within 100 yards of the crossing, the fireman said, 'Look out, that hooded buggy is not going to stop. The fireman seized hold of the whistle, and kept it open. THe witness applied the Westinghouse brake with full force for an emergency stop. The fireman continued whistling and applied, the engine handbrake. Witness then got a clear view of the buggy over the bunker of the engine. The hood of the vehicle was up, and the man was driving at a medum pace. When he got the horse's head over the rails he hesitated, not quite stoppings but nearly so, and the reins seemed to fall on to the horse's back, as if the driver was urging the animal on. The side of the engine struck the horse and the forecarriage of the buggy, and immediately; the engine wheels skidded owing to the greasy, horseflesh being on the line. The train went the length of the engine and three or four carriages before stopping. The forecarriage of the buggy was tangled in the working parts of the engine. The crossing was an open one and the view was not interrupted, either from the engine or the road, particularly in the direction the deceased was driving. He could have seen the train for at least a mile off.
By Mr. Yeomans - The train was running slower than usual and was on time.
By a Juror - The engine was running bunker first. There was no cowcatcher at that end, and if a person was on the line the guard rails would throw him off.
By the Coroner - It was a frequent occurrence for people to cross over in front of the train at the crossing particularly cyclists - and when they escaped by a hair's breadth they would put their fingers to their noses in defiance.
Foot Constable Davidson - who ascertained from the witness that the wind was blowing from the sea at the time of the accident- said he had driven over the crossing with the wind in that direction, and be could not hear the approaching, train till it was right on the crossing.
Driver McEntee - I think the poor fellow saw the train when it was too late.
Robert Wilson, who acted as fireman on the train, said he first observed the vehicle approaching the line when the train was about 150 yards from the crossing. He saw that the man was not going to stop, so the whistle was kept going and the brakes were applied. Before the train could stop the accident occurred. The horse was trotting, and the man did not appear to be on the lookout for the train. Thomas Baulderstone, builder, Goodwood, said he was riding his bicycle from Glenelg at the time of the accident, and heard the, warning whistle. He did not see the accident, but was on the crossing when tha prolonged whistle was given. A train was standing on the siding at Morphettville.
Patrick Walsh, police constable, said at 10.30 that morning he saw the medical superintendent of the Adelaide Hospital, and learned that Mrs. Tilbrook was in no condition to answer questions. She stated that she went with her husband for a drive to the National Park on Monday, and that they were returning home when the accident occurred. The train was on top of them before she knew anything about it. The deceased, she added, was a sober man, and did not have an intoxicating drink all day. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attachable to anyone.


The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Sat 30 Jan 1904
Death Notice:
TILBROOK.-On the 25th January, James Henry Tilbrook, beloved husband of M. E. Tilbrook and eldest beloved son of D. and M. Tilbrook, Brighton, who was accidentally killed by Glenelg train, aged 36 years. "Our loss; His gain."


The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) Wed 27 Jan 1904
Funeral Notice:
THE Friends of the late Mr. JAMES HENRY TILBROOK are respectfully informed that his REMAINS will be Removed from his father's (Mr. D. Tilbrook) residence, Brighton, THIS DAY (Wednesday), at 4.30 p.m., for Interment in the Brighton Cemetery. J. HIGHET, Undertaker, Brighton.

James married May Elizabeth SHELDON [2403] [MRIN: 808], daughter of George SHELDON [10343] and Unknown, on 23 Apr 1889 in Wesleyan Church Glenelg, Adelaide, S.A. (May Elizabeth SHELDON [2403] died on 20 Jan 1920 in Brighton, Adelaide, SA, Australia and was buried on 21 Jan 1920 in Brighton General Cemetery, Adelaide, SA, Australia.)

  Marriage Notes:

1889 SA Marriage 159/240 TILBROOK James Henry SHELDON May Elizabeth, Adelaide