ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Evening Star, Issue 22873, 3 February 1938, Page 2

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

FATAL FALL FROM LADDER. A middle-aged man, Archibald Francis Headman, died a few minutes after he had fallen to the concrete floor in Whiteombe and Tombs’s building in Colombo street, Christchurch. He was carrying out repair work on the water : sprinkler, fire alarm system, and was standing on the ladder about lift off the ground when the accident occurred. ra " s DEATH IN SURF. A boy aged 15 years, William Harry Limm, of Wanganui, met his death in the surf at Castlecliff (Wanganui) yesterday morning. It was at first thought that drowning was the cause, but later developments .suggest that heart failure occurred. ’ ", ■ With another youth, Limm was camping at the beach, and the pair went for a swim about 11 o’clock. Limm was missed by his companion when the boy returned to the shore, and the body was washed up on the beach during the afternoon after a fruitless search by surf club members. HEART FAILURE. The sudden death from heart failure of George Watts, aged 48 years, who has been for eight years custodian of the municipal baths at Wanganui, occurred yesterday afternoon. YOUTH’S SUICIDE.

A verdict that John. Henry Bedford, aged 16 years, committed suicide by shooting himself on his employer’s farm at Karaka, Papakura, on December 7, was found by the coroner (Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M.) at Auckland yesterday. Mr Hunt added that, he was satisfied that the boy had been quite happy, that he had wanted for nothing, and that there was no reason why he should have taken such a stgp. Gavin Howie, a farmer, who had employed the deceased, said Bedford had been inclined to prefer his own company, and that he had not visited the house much except to have his meals. He had worked with witness at Karaka for two years, and had slept in a whare at the back of the house. He had appeared in his usual good health on December 7, when witness had visited the city with his , wife, leaving the boy on the farm. . ... , Mr J. J. Lawes. vice-chairman of the Orphan Home Trust Board, under whose supervision the boy was, gave evidence that Bedford had always appeared perfectly happy, and that he had always spoken highly of his emremarked that he had not wanted to return a verdict of suicide in the case of such a young person. DUNEDIN MAN INJURED. Mr Stuart Morrison, of Dunedin, was injured when a car he was driving along the Eglinton Valley road on Tuesday in the vicinity of Cascade Creek was struck head-on by a Public Works Department truck. The accident occurred on a narrow stretch of road, - a steep gully on either side. Mr Morrison was thrown against the steering wheel with, considerable force, the impact being sufficient to break two ribs. He also received head injuries when he struck the windscreen. He had passengers in the car, but they all escaped injurv Three hours elapsed before the injured man could be brought to Lumsden for medical attention. The car, which was badly damaged, was conveyed to Lumsden yesterday for repairs. FALL OVER BANK. lan Cleveland, an eight-year-old hoy, residing at 29 Picardy street, Mornington, was admitted to the Hospital at 4 p.m. yesterday suffering from facial injuries and shock received when he fell off his bicycle and over a 20ft bank in the vicinity of the Roslyn Mills.