ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Evening Star, Issue 20996, 9 January 1932, Page 13

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

FATALITY IN ANDERSON’S BAY ROAD. The death occurred last evening in somewhat unusual circumstances of a man named Frank Douglas, who resided at 49 Botha street, Tainui. He was found unconscious on the footpath in Anderson’s Bay road, opposite Oxford street, about 7.30, and was taken to the hospital, dying a few minutes later. The exact cause of his death has not yet been ascertained. The only witness of the fatality was an unknown woman, who is believed to be a visitor to Dunedin, or at any rate a stranger to the Anderson’s Bay district. Police investigations show that Douglas was riding a bicycle along the cycle track when he either, had a seizure or collided with a telegraph post. The doctors who examined the body report that there were practically no external injuries, a circumstance that would indicate that Douglas did not meet his death through a collision or any traffic accident. The police have been unable to locate the woman who witnessed the fatality, and they would be greatly assisted in their _ inquiry if she would communicate with headquarters. Douglas was thirty-one years of age and married. He was employed as a fitter at the Hillside Railway Workshops. An inquest was opened before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., this morning. After evidence of identification had been given by a brother, A. G. Douglas, ol 33 Gilfil'lan street, the inquiry was adjourned to a date to be fixed later. FATAL FALL FROM SCOOTER. Falling from a scooter as he was riding down Wadestown Hill, Wellington, on Monday morning, Peter Grant Smith, aged nine years, received injuries which resulted in his death a few hours later. It was stated at the inquest that the boy left home with a playmate to ride on scooters down Wadestown road. The deceased, who was on the footpath, was ahead of the other boy when he skidded or swerved at a corner and fell on the road. He got up, and, although he was crying a little, he was able to walk home. Ho told his mother what happened, and appeared to be quite normal, but later he showed signs of not being well, and Dr Young was sent for. The' doctor arrived about noon, and the boy, who was then unconscious, was examined and put to bed. The doctor called again at 2 o’clock, as it was then apparent that there was something seriously wrong. A few minutes after the doctor arrived the boy died. In his evidence Dr Young said that in his opinion death was due to haemorrhage within the skull. _ The coroner returned a finding that the deceased died as the result of injuries received when he accidentally fell from a scooter. FATAL SHOOTING MISHAP. A Palmerston North Association message states that Mrs S. Jedson, wife of a Massey College employee who was admitted to hospital on Sunday, suffering from a bullet wound in the stomach, the result of an accident while rabbit shooting at Fit/herbcrt, died this morning. Deceased was twentytwo years of age.