ACCIDENTS, INQUESTS, &c.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7863, 19 May 1886, Page 6

ACCIDENTS, INQUESTS, &c.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Club Hotel, Colombo road, before R. Beetham, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, of which the foreman was Mr Stephen Lawrence, touching the death of William Henry Davenport. Mr Deacon appeared on behalf of the family; Inspector Pender appeared for the police. After viewing the body, the jury heard the following evidence: — Maria Anne Davenport, wife of the deceased : My husband’s age was 64, next February. He had been ailing for a very long time with disease of the kidneys and lungs. He had endured a great deal of pain and agony. He had been worse since Sunday week. Dr Anderson, who had attended him, gave no hopes of his recovery. Witness sat up with him thirteen nights. He was cheerful, but frequently asked how long he could endure such pain. Did not notice any change in his mind. He could not sit on the chair. He got up and walked into the kitchen about half past ten, and was alone there. Witness’ daughter heard a noise, and called to witness to go and see what was the matter. When witness went in she saw deceased sitting in a chair and bleeding. She went to call assistance. A large knife was on the table, with blood on it. There was a spot or two on the table. Witness’ daughter followed witness, and he was removed to his bed, where he died in a few minutes. Witness had not seen the wound in deceased’s throat. Deceased tried to speak, but could not. He had had great trouble in the family, but witness believed the cause of his committing the deed was the pain he endured. Hannah Maria Davenport, daughter of the deceased: Recollected deceased going into the kitchen. He was there alone for only a few minutes. Heard a noise, and called the last witness, who went out and called to witness. Witness ran out and held her father’s head, using two tablecloths to tie up the wound. Deceased was sitting on a chair with his head leaning forward. Put her arms round his neck and tried to atop the bleeding, which she thought must have been caused by the bursting of a blood-vessel. Saw a knife on the sideboard. Blood was all over the floor, and on his hands and clothes. Thought the blood was coming from his mouth. Deceased was always low-spirited, and had said he thought he would soon be called away, and that he was quite prepared to die. In the morning he seemed as if he was dying; he looked at witness as he did afterwards, just before he died. To the Foreman : The sideboard was a long way from him on his left. Could not say if it was there when she first came in. To Mr Deacon : Deceased had been very bad for six. weeks or two months. The doctor said it was dropsy at last, and if it touched the heart he was gone. On the James Reid, wheelwright: Lived next door to deceased. Heard the alarm and weut into the house, where he saw the de- ■ ceased sitting on a chair, all over blood. Went over to him, and asked him what he had 'done. Ho never answered. Asked if they had sent for a doctor. Miss Davenport, who was holding her father’s head, said “ No.” Said he would get one. Dr Robinson came about ten minutes later. , Sunday the nurse told witness that mortification had set in, and he could not last long. He recognised witness’ sister, and kissed her. His eyes were fixed on me in the morning, and they had the same appearance when witness was holding him up. Thought he was not quite in his right senses. He was not perfectly sensible. Deceased was not moved meanwhile. Helped them to remove deceased into the bedroom. After that Dr Thomas came, and the two doctors consulted together. Saw the wound, which was an awfully big gash across the throat, made on one side more than the other. Did not see the knife till after deceased’s death. Saw it then on the table. Had known deceased for twenty years. Had noticed nothing more recently than for some time previously. Deceased was suffering a great deal. He had had some family troubles. Never heard any quarrelling. To the Foreman: Knew that Mr and Mrs Davenport had been parted for a long time, but they were living together at this time. To Inspector Pender: Was present when he died, about three or four minutes after he was taken into the bedroom. The jury found a verdict that deceased had cut his throat while temporarily insane, through excessive pain. Mr George Wheeler, hotel-keeper, Sefton, met with a nasty, accident on Monday afternoon. While engaged in baling the water out of his cellar, his foot slipped, and he fell heavily to the bottom, where he lay until assistance was procured. As soon as possible he was removed to bed, and Dr Oven den sent for, who on his arrival found the left thigh bone fractured. Everything that was possible was speedily done for the comfort of the sufferer, who, we are glad to say, is progressing as favourably as can be expected. Between eleven and twelve o’clock on Sunday morning an elderly lady residing with the Rev J. Mackellar, of Rangiora, was discovered lying beside the horse’s feet in the stable in an insensible and bleeding condition. The lady was quickly conveyed to the house, and on Dr Gordon

examining her he found her injuries to consist of a'bruise on the side and arm, presumably caused by a kick or blow from the horse, and some cuts about the head and face, caused by falling on the, stones. The lady has not been able to give an account of the way she came by her injuries, but being fond of animals, it is supposed that she entered the stall to give the horse a handful of oats or hay, and was knocked down by the animal in someway. Last night the sufferer was in a very critical condition from tho effects of the shock combined with the injuries received. Mr Fred Birdling, when ou his way from Little River to Christchurch on Monday last, met with a nasty accident. The horse he was riding shying at some object on the road, threw him, when his collar bone was broken. He, however, remounted, and rode on to Christchurch to have his hurt attended to.

[Pee Press Association.]

DUNEDIN, Mat 18.

A report was current to-day that Mrs Irwin, one of the victims of the blast, was read, but it proved untrue. She recovered consciousness hut for a few minutes, and is still in a critical state.

The Coroner's inquest was opened to-day regarding the circumstances by which Mrs Finch met her death from being struck with a stone from a blast.

Mr Irwin, deceased’s brother-in-law, stated that, hearing a crash of stones through the roof, he went into the room, which was a mess of dust and dirt, and found Mrs Irwin lying on the floor above Mrs Finch. After taking his evidence the buildings injured were visited, and also the site of the blast, where Barnes, the. Foreman of Works, was briefly examined. The enquiry was then adjourned till Thursday next.

WELLINGTON, Mat 18.

A man named Benjamin Sewell, employed at Booth and Co.’s sawmill, near Carterton, met with an accident while at work, which resulted fatally.