CASUALTIES

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16310, 6 September 1918, Page 9

CASUALTIES

MB G. McCLURE'S DEATH. An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of 3lr George McClure, the victim of the motor accident which took place at Irwell on "Wednesday mowing, was held yesterday at the deceased's late residence, Killinchy, by Mr H. W. Bishop, Coroner. Mr A. S. Nicholls watched the proceedings on behalf of the McClure famUy and Mr Meares appeared for tho Southbridge Timber Company and Arthur King. Dr. Volckmann, who had made an examination of the deceased, stated that the left side of deceased's skull had been fractured, the fracture extending to the outer angle of the left eye. The bones of the left side of tho face were also fractured and, in witness's opinion, death must have been instantaneous. Arthur King, a bushmnn employed by the Southbridge Timber Company, stated that ho was cutting down a poplar tree alongside the road. Shortly before the tree fell witness looked out on the road to see if any traffic was approaching. He saw an object some considerable distance away in the direction of Doyleston, but could not discern what it was. Ho continued cutting the tree, which unexpectedly fell on to the ro?vd, just as a motor-car came past. Witness thought that the tree would fall into the paddock, but a sudden gust of wind carried it on to the road. The top of tho tree struck the hood of the car. Tho car went on and collided with a telephone post and subsequently tho front portion went into the Irwell creek. "Witness hastened to render assistance, and pulled a woman out of the water. The deceased was then in the front of the car apparently dead,* while tho driver seemed to be stunned. "Witness had been bushfelling for 32 years, but this was his first accident. Evidence was also given by Mrs "W. J. Lemon, one of tho occupants of the car, and by Arthur Grimwood, who helped King to rescue Mrs Lemon. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed by a tree falling across tho motor-car in which he was travelling, the said tree bein e felled by one, Arthur King. (press association telegram.) . DUNEDIX, September 5. The police were advised to-day that a man named Archibald McGill, married, residing at Scotland street, Dunedin, had been found dead at Tahakopa, 24 miles from Owaka, with his throat cut. At first murder was suspected, but a later message suggests that it is possibly, a case of suicide. McGill was a sawmiller by occupation.