ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

MOTOR-CAR WRECKED. THE DEATH OF THE DRIVER. (By l'aleiraph.—SDOtJal Corr'aspondsniJ • Palmerston, Decomber 23. Further details of tho motor fatality on Kangitikei caused by the bursting of a tiro show that tlio deceased taxi-cab driver, David William Musgrove,- son of tho Levin poundkeeper, was engaged by a party of Ohakuife men named John Stuidquist, Andrew M'Luskio 1 , Robert England, and Samuel Kennedy to t'ako them for a drive. They went along Rangitikei Line towards Awahuri, and after passing over tho Maiigaono stream, turned back towards town. When about a couplo of chains on this side of tho bridge a back tiro burst, causing tho car to sworve, with the . result. that tho driver apparently lost control, and tho car capsized. Musgrovo was killed instantaneously. Sandquisfc was badly injured and unconscious, and M!Luckio had ah arm broken. The two other occupants wero uninjured. A motor cyclist summoned Dr. Putnam, who immediately had Sandquist removed to a privato hospital. Tho spot wliero the aocident happened is a very 'ftwkward one. The road takes a .sharp curve, and tho bridge is on a rise, so that drivers ,of vehicles from opposite directions aro not oblo to 6ee each''other until nearly on tho bridge. Roth tho back wheels of the car wero smashed-to atoms, but tho front ones and tiro-' body of tiro motor wero oply slightly dariiaged. The wind screen was completely -demolished. ' _. Deceased Musgrovo only just leased tho car from Mr. Andrews, <)f Palmerston. Ho wiis a member of tho local Fire Brigade, and came'.to Palmerston en transfer' from tho Levin Brigade a bout twelve' months ago. Deceased ■was also, a ci'acli track cyclist,_ and represented New Zealand , iii the big' Warr-iianihool-Jlclbourne.'road race some years ago. He was about' 24 years of age. At a meeting oil Monday night' tho 'Fire Brigade passed a vote ' of- sympathy with his parents. .

At'the coroner's inquest a verdict of accidental death w as returned, no blame being 'attachable to anyone. DID NOT HEAR -TRAIN. " OLD MAN KILLED AT CROSSING. (By Telesraph'.—Special Correspondent.) • Palmerston, December 23. The victim of the railway fatality at tho Post Office crossing this week was Felix Stratford, aged 77.' Ho came from the North- of ii'eiaud, iirriving in New Zealand from Alelbourno in 1887. ; Ho worked ,in the West Coast mines,, ran a .store at licefton, was a coachbuilder st Groymouth, and also 1 lived at Marton and l'almerston, establishing here, 3CT years ago, the carriage business nc-v conducted'by Messrs. Bett and Bailey,' Ho was also identified with the flax industry, .and after again entering coachbuilding at Bulls, moved' in' turn to Auckland rind Taihapo'. Ho' leaves a widow';, but no family.At the ...inquest, Sergeant Willis stated i that deceased was diroliT a&e' pensioner, vory'.,fdoble,;and-TOnieivli/it deaf. Charles: VH.v'.BowoiiV''bank' clorli, said that lie.; jiad Noticed demised" walking very slowly over'tlio' Hhe, and lio apparently did liot hear the train coming. Witness at once' throw down a bioyclo which,lie was wheeling and rushed to deceased. .Ho just managed t'o got hold of him .when the engino struck. him Tho train .was travelling at about the usual speed adopted by cnginc-drivei'9 when going -'through''the Square. ■TJic cngiiio whistled loudly for a considerable titto prior-.to taking the. crossing..... D.r. Msißiii Stated":, of death ..wrarfiF3fi&>ro^iSf f< 9fe b'a'Se bfattho skull 'arid .Vpinci _ - Wni.'M,%aj,' driver of the train, stat-. Ed ;.t)i.at.''te''ho -was approaching ' f lio (•ross'ing ,hg, blew,'his;whistle twice, once, for the signal,' and, when that was lowered-, again for the crossing. • Ho wis abo/it.3o yards 'away When ho first saw deceased, -and witness was under the impression that he was just goinji to do what thousands of others do—walk close up to tho crossing aud. wait for the train to pass. A verdict of accidental death- was returned, no blamo being attachable to anyone. The coroner recommended, in view of the heavy traffic over the crossing, that the speed of trains bo reduced tf' five miles an hour when passing through the. Square. .

Till? OWN FUOXI HOUSE. .. 23. John Gibson,' w)}6,.was.,fhroyn' from a liorse at' fiafigitik'ei._ xfeiqovdd to-the' '.Kosp.'ital sil fierin'p;- from serious coiicussion of .tnc'. brain. STJICIDE AT AVONDAM.' , ■ Auckland, December 23. A man named Albert Ernest Ede committed suicide by cuttiripf his throat at Avbndale this morning. tie had boccmc reconciled to liis wife yesterday after three months' separation) due to his drinking habits. Evidenco at the inquest showed that he had a fear of going insane. His mother died in a mental .hospital, and his . brother is now in a- similar institution in Sydney. A verdict of suicide while insane .was returned.

MRS. WHITE'S DEATII

Yesterday Mr. J- S. Evans, S.M., held Br., inquest touching tlio death of .Mrs. Temple. "White, who had been missing Binco , December 12, aild whoso body was. found in the harbour-.'. • ion ' ; Monday. ' Evidenco given, to fhe eifect that Mrs. White had be&r in ill-health for .tears/ ftnd' ; had been very' depressed at times. The verdict Was that the deceased met her'death by drinvniflg on Or about Dolcembor 12 by. her own act, whilo in a, stato of temporary'insanity. . ' ■