TOPIC:

...."An inquest was held at Kelvedon [Essex] yesterday on a deported foreigner from South Africa, who fell from the Continental train on Tuesday. Cook's agent identified the body, and the evidence showed that deceased was a schoolmaster, an accomplished linguist, and the late secretary to a Boer commander. He was known to the party of "Undesirables" as "The Professor," and a number of "faked" playing cards were found on the body. An Italian was found asleep in the apartment from which the deceased had fallen, but there was no evidence of a struggle having taken place. Verdict "Accidental death." "
The Ipswich Journal, Saturday 1st December 1900

A report of the inquest.


. ....The Coroner, Mr. J. Harrison, held an inquest on Friday on the body of the man found on the line near Kelvedon station. The G.E.R. were represented by Inspector Norman; the police by Supt. W. Harrington. Mr. Jos. Polley was elected foreman of the jury.
....Wiseman, assistant gate keeper on the railway, said that on Wednesday morning about 6.45 he was walking along the line in the 6ft. way to his work, and when between the Rowley-lane bridge and the Church crossing he found the body of a man in the 4f't. way in a grip. One leg was jammed up. He went on to the crossing, and there saw Pease, a platelayer. Pease and another platelayer named Hazelwood went back with him, and the foreman platelayer, the police, and the station-master were sent for.
....Samuel Pease said the left leg was severed from the body, and there were cuts and bruises about the head, and the right hand and forearm were smashed. The ground was disturbed about eight yards from the body on the London side, and he noticed in the earth a hole as if someone had fallen from a London train.
....P.c. Alfred Coe said he found the body as described. After examination he had it removed to the Angel Hotel. He searched the body and found £1 4s. 2d. in English money, a purse containing some Transvaal money, a metal watch which was going, part of a metal watch chain, a metal bracelet round the lett wrist, part of a Transvaal newspaper, and some passages of scripture written in pencil, with a Continental ticket, 2nd class from London to Amsterdam, issued on Nov. 27,1900.
....Mr. C. R. Galpin, M.R.C.S., described in detail the shocking injuries, and said the probable cause of death was shock and hemorrhage, caused by falling from and being run over by a train.
....Police-Superintendent Harrington,of Witham, who had been making inquiries both by telegram and letter, said he had received two telegrams. The first, from Harwich, ran:—"Nothing reported; 158 passengers crossed by steamer Amsterdam on Wednesday, including Transvaalers, consisting of men, women, and children." The second telegram, received that morning, said:—"Body found—every inquiry made; officers, stewards, and men seen; no report; no one missing; no luggage unclaimed; train arrived Parkeston; rail doors fastened."
....Mr. Campbell, an official of the G.E.R., at this point said he had brought some witnesses. He called
....Arthur Goldsbury, agent for Messrs. Cook and Son, of Ludgate-circus, who said deceased was, on Tuesday last, one of a party of 80 deported foreigners, or " undesirables," who had been sent, by order of Lord Roberts, from the Transvaal. They arrived at Southampton on Monday night. They landed on Tuesday, leaving Southampton about eight o'clock, and were conveyed to Waterloo and on to Liverpool-street Station, where they arrived at about a quarter to twelve. Witness asked all the party their names and destination. Deceased gave his name as H. J. Zimmerman, and said he was going to Amsterdam. After preparing the tickets, witness met the party again at five o'clock. Deceased answered to his name and took his ticket, and witness gave him £1 in gold, for which he had his signature. Deceased did not go out of the waiting-room, but sat talking with witness, telling him he had been a school teacher, and that he spoke French, German, and English. Witness recognised the body as that of Zimmerman. Deceased told witness he was short of money, but had made a little on the voyage by means of a clever card trick, which he was willing to show witness. He had no friends or relatives where he was going. He seemed dull and depressed, and cried. He was known on board ship as "The Professor." Witness added that Messrs. Cook and Son received from the Government their instructions for the conveyance of these people.
....Mr. George James, also of Cooks, said deceased told him he was a schoolmaster, but that lately he had been acting as secretary to a Boer commandant. He chatted in French, and expressed his thanks tor the good treatment he nad received from the British authorities. The party left Liverpool-street at 7.15.
....Fred Drake, telegraph lad at Colchester station, said that when the 7.15 ex Liverpool-street arrived in Colchester at 8.46 he saw a 3rd class carriage door open on the off side in the Harwich portion. There was a young man in the carriage resting his head on his hand. He apeared to be asleep, and did not wake. There was no one else in the compartment, but a rug was lying in the other corner. Witness told the foreman porter what he had seen and done.
....lnspector Norman, G.E.R., stated that bloodstains had been discovered on the wheels of the goods train that passed Kelvedon from Colchester just after the train on which deceased was riding had passed. The Coroner said that thanks to the energy of Superintendent Harrington and the Essex police, and the valuable assistance rendered by Mr. Campbell and his staff of the G.E.R., it would not be necessary to adjourn ttie inquest. The jury unanimously found "that deceased met his death by falling from a passenger train and being run over by a goods train which left the Hythe (Colchester) Station at 8.10 p.m. on Nov. 27, but how he came to fall out of the train there was no evidence to prove." ....The funeral of the deceased took place at Kelvedon Churchyard on Saturday. The plain parish coffin containing the mangled body was carried to the grave by four men, and the Burial Service was read by the curate. There were a few persons present to witness the ceremony. On Sunday, the curate, the Rev. H. R. Anson, made touching references in his sermon to deceased's end, and said that God had committed his body to the keeping of the Church of Kelvedon.
The Essex County Chronicle, Friday 7th December 1900

The War Museum of the Boer republics in Bloemfontein lists on its database a German volunteer named Zimmerman, who well could be this unfortunate man. Like many foreign volunteers, he may have left (or in this case, been deported from) South Africa after the fall of Pretoria in June 1900.
The attached photo shows the German Corps on the Upper Tugela in January 1900, the men are standing just east of Twin Peaks. The photo is commonly reproduced, MC Heunis has identified these men as being German Volunteers, and I agree with him. The German volunteers were very active in the fighting in Natal, and fought very bravely, including on and around Spioenkop. It is quite likely that Zimmerman is among the men in the photo.

I looked in the death registrations for Zimmerman, Zimmermann and Zimmer, but there was nothing that matched this death and the date. Perhaps it wasn't registered because they weren't certain of his name; similarly, if an unknown tramp died, I don't suppose his death could be registered either. There ought to be something in the National Burial Index, whether he was named or not.