ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Evening Star, Issue 19758, 7 January 1928, Page 12

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

GIRL DROWEND. Just after noon yesterday bystanders at the junction of the Onepn road and Lyall parade, Wellington, heard cries which were the prelude to a tragedy, in which Stella Josephine Knight, aged fourteen years, lost her life. She had been bathing in the Lyall Bay surf in company with her brother, Lennis, aged ten, and had been the water for a short time when both the_ children were seen to lie in difficulties. The beach caretaker (Mr M‘Donald), Mr D. G. M‘Nab (of Timaru), and Mr Marchant (of the Lyall Bay Surf Club), with other members of the club, rushed to the rescue and brought the boy to shore. Once on the beach he was soon none the,worse for his experience. Mr M'Donald and Mr M'Nab carried Stella Knight from the sea, and it was seen that the unfortunate girl was at least unconscious. At once means of restoring respiration were employed, but without result. Dr W. Shirer, who was communicated with, hastened to the spot, but on his arrivel declared life extinct. Stella Knight was a daughter of Mr Knight, of Margaret road, Wadestown, who is a messenger in the General Post Office. MENTAL DEPRESSION. A verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was returned at the inquest at Tekiri concerning the death of Charlotte Lillian Ferguson, a widow,

who was found lying before a mirror in a room at a farmhouse yesterday with her throat cut and a razor beside the body. The medical evidence was that the deceased had suffered from acute mental depression for the past four months.—Hawera message.