THE GLOUCESTER CITIZEN, SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1928

RAILWAY MYSTERY

Passenger’s Disappearance from Express.

BODY FOUND ON LINE

Brighton, Saturday

A mysterious incident on the 12.5 a.m. express from Victoria to Brighton today is reported. It is stated that a passenger in a first class carriage pulled the communication cord when the train was travelling at a fair speed, after leaving Haywards Heath station. When the train was stopped, the passenger reported that he had seen the door of the adjoining first class compartment swing open, and that a person fell onto the line.

SEARCH PARTIES SENT OUT

The guard and engine driver immediately walked back along the track, but failed to find any trace of the passenger. The compartment from which he was reported to have fallen was searched, and a bowler hat and evening newspaper were found.

The train moved to a signal box outside Burgess Hill, and the affair being reported by telephone to Brighton and Haywards Heath, search parties were sent out. The express reached Brighton 3/4 of an hour late.

DISCOVERED IN SIX FOOT WAY

The driver of a goods train later discovered a body in the six-foot way. It was taken to the mortuary at Haywards Heath. On the body were found a railway pass bearing the name “S. J. Burbage”, a card with the name “S. J. Burbage, Railway Staff Conference,” Parliament Street, Westminster, and another ticket giving the same name and an address in Freshfield Road Brighton.

DECEASED’S IDENTITY

Later enquiries revealed that Mr S. J. Burbage was secretary of the railway staffs conference. He served as a captain during the war, and was officer commanding of a section of the railway operating division in France. The body has been identified as that of Mr Samuel James Burbage, of Freshfield Road Brighton. He is a married man with two children.