ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 579, 6 August 1909, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

A DEATH BY DROWNING. .'■..'■ WAS IT ACCIDENTAL P/ , ' An inquest was continued by Dr. M'Arthnr, coroner, yesterday, touching tho death of Harry whoso body was found in tbe : harbour, on, Tuesday. Thp inquiry. bad beau adjourned to allow of a post-mortem examination being made by. Dr.-Fyffo, and tho result of this was given. In his previous external examination, Dr. Fyffo had found that deceased bad a largo bruise onthe loft side of the neck, and the post-mortem examination was made to ascortain whether death was duo to this injury or to .drowning. Dr. -Fyffc stated that deceased mot his death by drowning, but his examination also made it practically certain that deceased was unconscious when ho fell into tho water. No sign of alcohol was found. To Sub-Inspector Norwood: The condition in which deceased /was found was consistent with the supposition that he had fallen ;off the wharf and struck something, rendering him unconscious. Tho ncck.w.as an unusual place to receive a wound in falling, and it was more likely to have been caused by a blow from-the fist. If severe, such a blow would cause unconsciousness. Such a wound might have been received, however, through deceased's trying to get out of the water, and striking a firm object in slipping back. , . A verdict was returned to tho effect that deceased met his death by drowning, there being no ovideiico to show how ho came to be in the water. DEATH ON THE OPERATING TABLE. (Dγ Tolot'raph.-Presn Association.) , AucKland, August 5. An inquest was held at the hospital this afternoon on-the: body of Mary Ann Blackburn, of Ouchunga, who died on the operating tablo while, being operated on for goitre. Dr. Stanley A. Bull said he' had inado a post-mortem ' examination. The cause, of death was syncope, caused prin-. oipaJly by the disease from which deceased was sufforing, and possibly in part by chloroform; The, operation proposed was a common one, and was' the mildest form of operative treatment applied to that. disease. .The operation was skilfully performed," and had nothing directly 'to 'do with the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict that death had resulted from misadventure. ! "DEPLORABLE." j (By Teleerapb.—Press ABSoolatiqn.) ! .' Cfsborne, August 5; j An inquest on tho' body of' Edwin James Norton, drowned in the Turanganui River, was hold to-day. Deceased had been drinking heavily. A verdict of "Found drowned" was returned. The coroner (Sir. W. A. Barton,. S.M.) said the circumstances of death wore' deplorable. Some person was to blame. Ho urged the police to make the fullest investigations.