ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

Evening Star, Issue 7651, 29 June 1888, Page 2

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

Another sensation has been caused at Auckland by the death of a man named Ross, who had used the Canadian medicines sold by Mr Dnflot. The man, however, was suffering from pericarditis ; and Dr Bakewell, who was called to attend him, says he does not think the Canadian medicines had anything to do with his death. Ross was an old seafaring man, and well known in Auckland.

It is supposed that the attempts to burn the Woolston and Phillipstown stations were the work of the same parties. The stations are both on the Ferry road, nearly two miles apart. The Woolston building is insured in the Union office; the Phillipstown st.ition is Government property, and uninsured. In both instances dry corse and sticks had been pushed under the buildings and set on fire.

The following particulars of the inquest touching the death of the infant child of Sophia Williams, of Cromwell Flat, are taken from the 'Cromwell Argus':—"lt would appear that Sophia Williams, a daughter of Mrs Sarah Williams, of Cromwell Flat, gave birth on the afternoon of Tuesday, 19th inst., to a male child, on which were certain marks or injuries. It transpired in the evidenoe that the mother of the child had told no one of her condition, and that up to the actual birth Mrs Williams was unaware of her daughter's state. No one was present with the mother when the child was born, but immediately after Mrs Williams discovered a birth had taken place she acquainted Mrs Hayes. The child was supposed to have been deadborn until the arrival of the doctor, who asserted that it was alive, calling the attention of Mrs Hayes to the fact that the child breathed, or attempted to do so. Tho child, however, did not recover. Dr Stacpoole and Dr Hyde stated that they applied the hydrostatic test, and, according to all known authorities, the child had never breathed. Dr Stacpoole swore, however, that he saw the child move and attempt to breathe. The verdict of the jury was—- " That the child died from injuries received during parturition; that the child was of an extremely ill-nourished and weakly nature ; that there is no reason to Buspect that the injuries were received iu an otherwise than accidental or unavoidable manner; but that great blame is attachable to Sophia Williams (the mother of the child) for not having acquainted her mother (Mrs Williams) of her condition, or some other experienced woman of her acquaintance." Mr Hickson, coroner, said that until he heard Dr Hyde's evidence he thought there were grounds for suspicion against Mrs Williams, but after hearing it he had altered his opinion, and agreed with the verdict.