ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 631, 7 October 1909, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

. BTJHNED TO DEATH. (Bj TfllttirraDlii.- Association.l • Christchurch, October 5. An inquest was held this afternoon touching the deatn of Thomas'Painton, who was burned to death-in his tent late on Saturday :night, or early on Sunday morning. ' Evidence was given to the effect that deceased was about 72 years of age, and that for the last'twentytwo years he had worked at an orchard, Harewood Eoad. 'At • night he' slept'in a tent in the orchard; about one hundred, yards from the house. On the night of the. fatality lie parted from on acquaintance at half-past ten. He was then perfectly sober, but had a bottle or whisky in his possession. About an hour later he was heard talking and singing to himself, and he continued this up; to -about a. quarter past two, on Sunday • morning. The Coroner found that death- was caused by burns, but there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. • '

CAUGHT IN THE WINCH GEAR. .Wh'angarei, October 6. While working on the steamer May Howard at the Railway Wharf to-day, a seaman named John . Hannah became entangled in the wire ropo which was being taken in by the winch, with the result thai he sustained two -compound fractures.of. one leg, ( He was admitted to the hospital where 1 , amputation was deemed imperative, •.

, AN OLD DIGGER'S DEATH. Goro, October 6. An old'man named - Jas. Bryson, better known,as "Jimmy tho Packer," aged about 75 years, was found dead in bed at Waikaia this morning. He was one o( the fast-disappoaring band of old diggers, and resided-there since the gold discovery.' • - \ » • .