INQUESTS, ACCIDENTS, AND OFFENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4259, 8 July 1875, Page 2

INQUESTS, ACCIDENTS, AND OFFENCES.

I An inquest was held at the Mercury : Bay Hotel, on Saturday, the 19th Jbne, on ; the body of James Glow, a native of England, ■ aged about 54, anil who has for the last 20 j or 25 j'ears been a miner, both in Australia | and New Zealand. The inquest was held ! before Robert Y\ igmore, Esq., J.P., and a j respectable jury, of which \\ illiam Miekle, J Esq., was chosen foreman, when the jury ; after hearing the evidence submitted, re- • turned as verdict, "That on the 17th of June .Tames Clow died, but from what cause, for want of medical evidence, we cannot say." The following rider wa3 added: — , " We, the jury, unanimously agree that any puhlican that shall keep or encourage a man to be, or remain on his premises in a state ' of intoxication, should forfeit his licence."

An inquest was held on June 23, at the Asylum, before Dr. Goldsbro', upon the body of John Lewis, a labourer, who died at the asylum on the 22nd. The evidence adduced shewed that the deceased had been admitted on the 24th of March, 1575, suffering from insanity, and that lie remained in the same state to within a fortnight from his death, when he took to his bed, and gradually sank and died. Dr. Aicken had made a jioit ntorh-m examination of the body, the result of which shewed that the deceased had died from serous effusion oil the brain. The jury returned a verdict of " Died from natural causes." The deceased was single, and leaves no relatives in the colony. An inquest was also held upon tile body of John Townsend, who expired on the 22nd June. Evidence was given of deceased's admission to the hospital, l'ivc days previous to his deatli he fill into a lit, and from that time sank gradually. A t mortem examination revealed that death was caused by serous effusion of the brain, and a similar verdict was returned in this case. The deceased leaves a wife, bur no family.

An inquest was held at tlio Freeman's Bay Hotel on the 14tli June, on the body of William Dodd, who died suddenly at Vara's Boarding-house on previous Saturday, Dr. I'hilson, Coroner, conducted the enquiry. The evidence adduced shewed that previous to his death the deceased was apparently in good health. A j">st examination had been held, the result of which proved that he had died from aneurism. A verdict of " Heath from natural causes" was returned.

The coroner's inquest upon the body of the late John Charles Sextie, which had been adjourned for the purpose of allowing the contents of the deceased'sstomachto be analysed, was resumed on the 12th of June, at the Suffolk Hotel.—Dr. Hooper, upon being examined, made the following statement:— In conjunction with Mr. Tunny, the Provincial Analyst, I have made an analysis of the contents of the stomach of the deceased, and found distinct traces of strychnine therein. I believe that a large quantity had been taken—sufficient to destroy life. I have no reason to doubt that the deceased took the fatal dose himself, and that it was not administered to him. I am of opinion that deceased died from the effects of strychnine. Not having seen deceased during life, it is impossible for me to say whether convulsions preceded death or not.—This concluded the evidence, and the jury having retired for a short time, returned the following verdict: —" That the deceased, John Charles Sextie, died from the effects of strychnine, but whether the said poison was taken by himself or administered by some other person no evidence has been laid before the jurors to shew."

Another fatal accident by drowning occurred at an early hour on the 2nd July, in the harbour. The unfortunate man who has lost his life is one Joseph Siva, a sailor on board the cntter Rob Roy, now lying in harbour. The deceased, it appears, went on deck at aboat half-past five in the morning. Half an hour afterwards the mate found him missing, and naturally fancied that he had fallen overboard. Information was given to the police, and Sergeant Martin at once proceeded to drag the harbour in the vicinity of the cutter's anchorage ground. At ten o'clock the poor fellow's body was rccoverod, thus removing all doubts as to his fate. The deceased was formerly mate of the whaler Albion. The coroner's jury returned a vordict of " Found drowned."

A woman named Mary Johnson, aged S3 years, died at the Lunatic Asylum on the Ist July. An inquest was held at the Asylum, before Dr. Goldsboro', and a verdict returned that the deceased had died from old age.

A workman, named Edwin Lamb, in the employ of Mr. Taylor, contractor, whilst employed on June 28, at the building of the new hospital, suddenly fell to the ground. He was picked up and conveyed to the hospital, but waa found to be dead. The deceased was subject to apoplectic fits, and had been an out-patient at the hospital for their treatment. The cause of death being apparent to Dr. Philson, there was no inquest on the body. The deceased was a single man.

A sudden death under distressing circumstances occurred on the 10th June, at thetownship. Vnold man named John Campbell, between 80 and 85 years of age, in the employment of Mr. E. Cafler, and keeper of that gentleman's domain, was found dead near his cottage with only a shirt on. An inquest was held on the body before a respectable jury and Mr. Bedlington, coroner, whem a verdict of death from natural causes wns returned. From the medical testimony of Dr. Scissons, it appeared that the deceased had fallen down in a tit while on his way to the creek for a bucket of water, and died rom exhaustion.

A case of sudden death occurred late on the lltli of June, at the Harbour View Boarding-house, on the wharf. A labouring man named William Dodds, aged about 23 years, who was staying at the house, after partaking of a cup of coffee on the night in question, suddenly fell to the floor and expired within a few moments. The deceased was in robust health, and of steady habits. His death is believed to have been occasioned by heart disease.

A settler in the Pukekohe district, named Alexander Scott, died on June 22, at the Provincial Hospital, it is believed from typhoid fever. He was found the previeus day by some lads lying ill in a whare, near Mercer, and was ultimately conveyed to town by the train, and taken to the hospital, where he died, in spite of the care and attention paid him there.

Kobert Vine, pensioner, formerly of Auckland, was found dead in an unfinished house in Tennyson-street, Napier, lately. At an inquest the jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from starvation and neglect, accelerated by intemperance.

A man named_Barnfield, employed rafting timber, is supposed to have been drowned while crossing Petane River, on June 19. He is about 22 years of age, and a native of Bristol; he has friends at the Thames.

We learn that Charles Bonham, who was injured in the hand through contact with the machinery at Lamb's mill, on June 14, is progressing favourably at the Hospital. Dr. Philson considers that amputation is unnecessary, and the patient is likely to recover without loss of his hand. These repeated accidents with machinery should, however, act as a caution to workmen engaged on premises where the same is in use.

A child aged ten years, the daughter of Mr. Andrew Craig, of Hob3on-street, had the misfortune recently to fall over the cliff at the foot of Hobson-street, on a part that has been left in an exposed condition. The child fell on to the beach below. It being high water at the time, in addition to the injuries received in the fall, she was in danger of drowning. Fortunately a fisherman, named Frank, was at hand, and attracted by the cries from the little girl's playfellows, rescued her from her perilous position and conveyed her to her parents' home, where Dr. Lee subsequently attended her. The child was insensible, and fears are entertained that the fall has resulted in concussion of the brain.

A serious accident occurred on the 26th June, to a man named Cross. It appears that the unfortunate man was getting over the fence guarding the hollow between the Albert and the United Service Hotels, when a portion of the embankment gave way, precipitating him head foremost some ten or twelve feet, on the stone foundation work of the building being erected there He was picked up insensible and conveyed to Kdson's, chemist, opposite, where he was restored to consciousness, whence he was removed in an express to the hospital. His face was very much cut and disfigured, and he was also very much shaken. It will be some time before he will be able to get about again. One of the narrowest escapes from the possibly fatal consequences of accident occurred on the 22nd of June. The accident

is also of the strangest character that has been recorded either, in Auckland or elsewhere. To comprehend the strangeness of the occurrence it is necessary to enter somewhat into detail. At the back of Mr. Short's (hair-dresser) premises, there is a "lean-to" roofed with zinc, having a fireplace with a brick chimney twenty feet high at the south-eastern corner. A large brick building forms the northern boundary of Mr. Hardington's yard, having also a high chimney overlooking the "lean-to" already mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Short had been to Mercer with some friends, and arrived on their return home about seven o'clock in the evening. They prepared to liave supper in the " lean-to," which was used as a kitchen, l>iit were induced to accompany their-friends to Hubsun-street. When they came back they found the "lean-to" actually destroyed and the place where it stood heaped up with bricks. Upon obtaining access to the yard, ; they discovered that a large slice had been taken out of the corner of Mr. Hardington's building. In fact, there was an open way through the house into the stable sheds. The fact is that the higher chimney of llardington's premises must have fallen against the lower level chimney, and the whole weight of the two, with part of the contiguous walls, fallen altogether upon the unfortunate "lean-to" or kitchen. Had Mr. and Mrs. Short not been induced to accompany their friends a little way, one or both of them must have been seriously injured or killed. So narrow an escape from death we do not remember to have heard of.

By the return of the schooner Blanche from a South Sea Island cruise, we learn of a disaster which befell one of her crew shortly after leaving port. The vessel In-in" detained at the Great Barrier for some .lavt by an easterly wind, Captain Youn" determined to have some sport ashore amongst the rabbit*. He landed with this intent at Wellington Island, taking with him two of the crew,, both Sandwich Islanders, and named respectively Charlie and 1 latere. When about to return to the vessel, the former waa missing. Captain Young found it impossible to prosecute a minute search for the lost man with the assistance of only one man, and therefore returned to the schooner, and ordered the whole ship's company on shore. The search that followed resulted in the discovery that Charlie had been precipitated from the overhanging cliffs on to the rocks below. His body was found very much lacerated about the side of the head, the tide at the time flowing over him. Life was extinct. It was evidentlie had lost his footing, and had fallen on fo the rocks, the injuries he had received resulting fatally. The body was taken up and conveyed to Port Abercrombie, where, in Naval Cove, a grave was' dug, and the remains deposited there. The deceased was aged about thirty yenra, and had sailed with Captain Young for some months. He was very docile, and was considered a good seaman.

A man named William McDonald started, late oil Friday (July 2) from the wharf in a. small boat for Kiverhead, but by some meansmanaged to upset the boat. Fortunately he was able to swim, and succeeded in beeping afloat for a space of two hours, during which, time the tide drifted him towards the wharf, and he was thus enabled to reach the watermen's steps, where the night constable had. a , few moments before been attracted by his • cries. He was at once cared for by the j police, and dry clothes provided for him, ' and after a short time McDonald recovered I from the effects of his long immersion. | An accident happened on the Ist. July I to a lad of 10 years, named William Giles, i which had well nigh been attended with j fatal consequences. The lad was serving his J father, a plasterer, who was engaged on the , second tier of scaffolding, and through I momentary heedlessness missed his footing j and fell to the ground, a distance of about twenty feet. Fortunately his fall was broken I by one of the protruding scaffolding poles, a | circumstance that in all probability saved ■ his life. Dr. Hooper happened to be in the i neighbourhood, and recommended the boy j being removed to the Provincial Hospital. I A man named Henry Broadfoot had h'S leg broken on the sth of July, when quarrelI liug with another man named Ireland. It i 3 j most probable that the injury was the result 'of an accident. Broadfoot stated that he : had been kicked by Ireland, and that the ; kick broke his leg, but the house surgeon of the Provincial Hospital is of opinion that the i leg was broken by a fall, as there was no j concussion or exterior wound on the leg. Additional pieces of wreck have been found at I.ongbeach, on the Ninety-mile Beach, some of which bear the words "Success, of I Auckland," thus setting at rest all doubts as to what vessel they belong to. An inquest 1 on the three bodies found -with the wreckage j was held at Asliburton recently, when a verdict of " Accidentally drowned" was returned. The bodies were those of a white [ man and two Kanakas. The white man | was dressed in oilskin overalls, the right 1 arm tatooed blue and red, with a woman holding a flag and "Young America," ■ pricked in below; there was also a tall ' three-masted schooner on the breast. One , of the colored men had tattooed on the left

' arm, " Kapulhmlmho Siomenth Okuplilu," lon the right, "Lealo Omalu Selpho." The ' other man had a flag on the inside of the left thigh. j One of those fearful instances to which a human being can be brought by drink 1 occurred on 14th June. Charles Padon was picked up at seven o'clock in the evening in Victoria-street, drunk and incapable, by Constable O'Keilly, and conveyed to the ; lock-up in a wheelbarrow.- He was placed in a cell, in which he died, within the space of two hours after his incarceration. The gaoler on duty had noticed his helpless j condition, and provided him with a pillow, ' and placed him on his side. He was then : breathing heavily. On making the usual : inspection at nine o'clock, upon relief of officers, the prisoner was found to be dead. I Dr. Hooper was at once sent for by the ; police, but beyond making an anamination, | could do nothing. Life was extinct. The 1 deceased was about 44 years of, age, and had formerly occupied a respectable position in society, being by profession a barrister. Drink had been his ruin. He came to j Auckland from Nelson about two months ago, and since his arrival has given consider- '' able trouble to the police through his bei haviour. A few days before he was charged ' at the Police Court, under the Vagrancy Act, with being an habitual drunkard. Upon his ! earnest protestations of reform and promise i to leave the province, the charge was withj drawn. The sequel is to be found in the | above. Picked np in the evening in the gutter, j and conveyed to the only asylum open to I him in the condition in which he was found, he died the death of a dog, in a police cell. A sum of £13 was found in his possession, the proceeds of the sale of Albion G.M. Co. shares.

A man named Jno, Hunter, living in Beres-ford-street, was charged at the Police Court on June 26, -with attempting to commit suicide. The prisoner had been drinking to excess, and, -when suffering from his intemperance, attempted his own destruction by cutting his throat with a razor. His sister witnessed the act, and succeeded in preventing him from inflicting a fatal wound, but, in doing so, her hand was severely lacerated. The prisoner was subsequently discharged.