ACCIDENTS, INQUESTS, &c.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7862, 18 May 1886, Page 5

ACCIDENTS, INQUESTS, &c.

An inquest bn the body of Samuel Heaton, who died suddenly on Saturday last, was held at the Perry Bridge Hotel at 4.30 p.m. yesterday, before R. Beetham, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr James Scott was chosen foreman. The evidence of three witnesses was taken, and bore out the statement published in our last issue as to the man’s death. A verdict of “ Natural causes” was returned. An elderly man named James Davis, at work on the Ocean Steamers’ wharf,. Lyttelton, yesterday, met with a serious accident. Davis had been taking timber out of the ketch Ocean Bird, and was just about to knock off, having finished his job. He was standing before a stationary truck on the line. Another man was engaged in shutting trucks with a horse, and the two or three trucks being shunted collided with that near which Davis was standing, and knocked him down. He attempted to get out of the way when too late, and the truck went over his right thigh, smashing it badly, Davis, it must be mentioned, is hard of hearing, and could not have heard the approaching trucks till they collided with the stationary one. No blame can be attached to the horse-driver, who could not have seen Davis. The unfortunate man was at once taken to the casual ward, and Drs Guthrie and Harrison were sent for. On examination it was found that the leg was so badly crushed that amputation was ’ necessary, and the operation was performed by these gentlemen. SUICIDE AT SYDENHAM. About 11 o’clockyesterday morning, Mr W. H. Davenport, who formerly kept a grocer’s shop in the Triangle, and has lately been residing in Bowen street, Sydenham, committed suicide by cutting his throat. Mr Davenport has been in ill-health for some time past, and has, consequently, been low spirited. He has also had domestic trouble, which, in addition to his illness, has preyed on his mind, and, no doubt, led to this unfortunate termination. Mr Davenport was a very old resident of Christchurch, and in days gone by did a good business in the grocery trade. It appears from the statements of the members of his family, that Mr Davenport, who was sixty-four years of age, had been suffering from, disease of the chest for the past two months, and had been attended by Dr Anderson. Mrs Davenport had been sitting up with him for the past thirteen nights, as he was unable to sleep much, and was troubled with a severe cough. About a quarter-past 11 o’clock yesterday morning he got up, saying that he could not lie down any longer on account of the pain. He dressed, and went into the kitchen. A few minutes afterwards his daughter, Miss Emily Davenport, who' was in an adjoining room, heard a noise in the kitchen, ‘ and on going in found him sitting in a chair, and bleeding from the neck. Thinking he had burst a bloodvessel, she attempted to stanch the blood with a'tablecloth, and called to her mother. Mrs Davenport went in, and also endeavoured to stop the bleeding, screaming at the same time for assistance. Mr J. Reid, who lives next door, heard her screams and went into Mr Davenport’s house. He perceived that the unfortunate man’s throat, was cut. Miss Davenport then went to another neighbour, Mr S. Ward, and told him that something had happened to her father, as he was bleeding fast. Mr Ward sent for Dr Robinson, but that gentleman was away from home. Dr Robinson states that when passing the end of Bowen street he noticed several women standing round Mr Davenport’s house, and thinking that an accident might have occurred, he paused a few moments. As none of them made any sign, he went to visit a patient living opposite the Sydenham Hotel. While in the house of this person he was informed that an accident had happened in Bowen street. He at once went thither, and ordered Mr Davenport to be removed to bed. This was done, and the deceased, who was at the point of death when the doctor entered the house, expired about two minutes afterwards. From tbe nature of the wound, surgical aid would have been of no avail, even had it been at hand immediately after the act was committed. Dr Thomas came to the house just before Mr Davenport died, and Dr Frankish arrived just after. Dr Robinson is of opinion that the deceased had lingered some twenty-five minutes after he had cut his throat. It is stated that he took a large dose of chloral on Sunday, but whether with suicidal intention or not cannot be determined. Messrs Reid and Ward carried Mr Davenport to his bed, where he died in about two minutes. A butcher’s knife, covered with blood, lay on a table at the deceased’s left side. It had been kept in a cupboard in the room. The gash inflicted on Mr Davenport’s throat by this weapon was a fearful one, extending nearly from ear to ear. ' [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 17. Archibald Cook, aged 10, was drowned whilst playing with the timber booms at Freeman’s Bay. WELLINGTON, 'May 17. _ A telegram was received from Otaki this morning stating that Mrs James Sheath, wife of the Postmaster at Tauranga, was drowned in the Otaki river yesterday. Mr C. Rutherford, one of the earliest residents in Carterton, died suddenly this morning from bronchial asthma. A BLASTING ACCIDENT. DUNEDIN, May 17. A fatal accident occurred just about 5 o’clock this afternoon. The unemployed working in Dowling street (a cross street from Princes street) have been firing blasts within the past few days. Just a little before 5 o’clock a blast was let off, and either through too much powder being used, or not sufficient blending, or probably both, the stones, some of them of very large size, were hurled some distance away. Some fell in Princes street, which is usually crowded at that time, and an expressman is said to have had his thigh fractured. A number fell on the roofs of shops in Princes street, and one large one, which came crashing through the roof of the London Photographic rooms, crushed and instantly killed Mrs Finch, sister of the wife of the proprietor, Mrs Irvine. Mrs Irvine herself, who was sitting working at the same table, had her skull fractured, and her recovery is doubtful. Two other ladies sitting in the room received slight injuries. As the blast took place in a cutting about 80ft deep, and the stones must have passed over intervening houses, the force of the .explosion may be judged when it is stated that the London Photographic rooms are fully 150 yards distant from where the blast took place. Showers of stones fell on all the houses in the vicinity, and some penetrated through other roofs, while a chimney of one was wrecked. The fascines used for blinding were found about 80 yards away. The blasting operations are said to have' been in charge of one of the unemployed, who received an extra 6d per day. A. verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned at the inquest on the two (jiildren who were burned to death at Mornington on Saturday.