ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17527, 10 July 1917, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

BODY FOUND IN LAKE. [Pin Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, July 9. Tho body of F. J. Bateman, tailway guard, was found in the lake in Pukekura Park this morning. 'Bateman was a married man ; with no children. Both he and his wife had been in illhealth lately. He loft a noto indicating his intention to commit suicide. BURNT TO DEATH. [Per Press Association.] HASTINGS, July 9. A roadman’s whare at Tununui. was destroyed by fire. Unidentified remains, believed to he those of the roadman, Matthew Regan, were discovered in tho debris. ' ( FOUND DEAD. [Per Press Association.] NELSON, July 9. Charles Hockey, a resident of Takaka, was found dead in a ditch at Richmond yesterday. Deceased, when last seen, was endeavouring to mount his horso. * DEATH FROM SCALDS. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 9. May Madigon, aged six, died in the hospital to-day from the effects .of burns and scalds caused through falling while carrying a kettle of boiling water.

DEATH OF A CHILD.

INQUEST AT LYTTELTON.

Mr H W. Bishop, District Coronor, held an inquest at Lyttelton yesterday concerning the death of Alfred John Slack, the eight montlis old son of Mr and Mrs Charles Edward Slack, London Street, Lyttelton, who was found dead in his cot on Sunday afternoon. Charles Edward Slack, father of the child, stated that about midday he and his wife left the child sleeping in his cot on the second floor, and went downstairs, where they remained about an flour, during which time the child s mother returned to the child’s room five times. About one o’clock, when the mother went to remove the milk bottle, she found that the child was dead. Dr Newell was promptly summoned. . Sergeant Jackson stated that shortly after 2 p.m. on Sunday he was called to Mr Slack’s house. He, examined the cot. Tho child apparently had aivolto and turned right over to the other end of the cot, and had got his head between the bars of the cot .and had been suffocated. A verdict was returned that the child, was accidentally suffocated in his cot.