The death of Daniel Moriarty
A gruesome discovery was made on the railway line at Jolimont junction yesterday morning when the body of a man with the head severed was found on the permanent way. The discovery was made by the driver of the 6.50 down Oakleigh train, who saw the head lying between the up Oakleigh and down Brighton lines on the six-foot way. He shunted back and removed the body from the set of rails upon which it was lying, and sent information to the Princes-bridge railway station. The body was then warm, and it was evident that death had taken place not long before.
The corpse, which was removed to the Morgue, was that of a sturdily, well -built young man, comfortably clothed, and appearances pointed to the fact that the deceased had not been in wont. Last evening the dead man was identified as Daniel Moriarty, aged 27, a prominent member of the Melbourne Football Club, and one of its most dashing players. He was employed by the Melbourne Cricket Club as a ground caretaker and lived with his parents in Webb-street, Fitzroy.
How he came by his awful death is a mystery. According to deceased's sister, who made the identification, Moriarty slept at home on Tuesday night, and must have gone away, very early in the morning. He gave no indication to his family that he was worried or in trouble. Deceased was extensively known, and very popular in athletic circles.
Inquest on Daniel Moriarty
An inquest on the body of Daniel Moriarty, the well-known Melbourne footballer, who was found on Wednesday morning with his head severed from his body on the railway line near the Jolimont-bridge, was held at the Morgue yesterday by the City Coroner, Mr Candler.
Mary Moriarty, sister of the deceased, give evidence of identification. She last saw him at half-past 8 on Tuesday evening, when he was sober and in his ordinary spirits. He went out before breakfast next morning. Deceased was steady and of a cheerful temperament.
Mr G. C. Rennie, F.R.C.S., described the severance of the head and body, and the wounds on the head and neck.
George Moodie, an employee of the M.C.C., said that on the way back from Bairnsdale about three weeks ago Moriarty had two fits in the train. He jumped up, threw up his arms and fell on the floor. The fits lasted only a few seconds. There was no reason connected with his work to take him on to the railway-line.
Mr Rennie, F.R.C.S. (recalled) said that in his opinion the fits described were hysterical or epileptic—probably epileptic. Under epileptic influence which is associated with suicidal tendencies, a man might take his own life for an imaginary grievance. Moriarty might have wandered on the railway line without knowing anything about it.
The Coroner recorded a verdict that Daniel Moriarty was found dead on the railway line with his head severed from his body, having been killed by a passing train. The Coroner added that there was not sufficient evidence to show how or why he got on the line though he probably wandered there while affected with epileptic or epileptiform conditions, and lay down with his head on the rail of the line. No blame was attached to the Railway department.
Footnotes
Title: Decapitated by a train
Author: The Age Staff Writer
Publisher: The Age (Melbourne, Vic: 1854-1954)
Date: 27 August 1903, p.5 (Article)
Web: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197214193
Title: Jolimont railway fatality
Author: The Age Staff Writer
Publisher: The Age (Melbourne, Vic: 1854-1954)
Date: 29 August 1903, p.19 (Article)
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