INQUESTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19506, 15 June 1925, Page 13

INQUESTS.

A BOY’S DEATH. An inquiry was opened at the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday morning into the circumstances surrounding the death of William James Cochrane, who died in the Institution on Friday as a result of injuries sustained through being knocked down by a motor car at Balclutha the previous day. Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., sat as coroner, and Sergeant Dunlop represented the police. James Cochrane, the father of the deceased, a pelt curer and grader residing at Yarmouth street, Balclutha North, gave evidence of identification. He said that he arrived home from his work at 4.50 p.m. on June 11, and saw the deceased, who was delirious, and crying about a pain in his stomach. Dr Brown, of Balclutha, attended him, and held out no hope for his recovery. Dr Brown ordered deceased’s removal to the Dunedin Hospital, where he was admitted about 10.50 a.m. the next day, dying shortly after his admission. Dr J. It. D. Iverach, assistant medical officer, Dunedin Hospital, said that deceased was admitted to the Hospital at 10.50 a.m. on Friday morning. Witness saw deceased immediately on his admission. He was in a very bad way, and practically moribund, and was suffering from haemorrhage. Witness could not determine the full extent of his injuries. He had a small bruise on the back .of the right side just below the shoulder-blade, and a small abrasion on the right side of his chest. They were the only signs of injury that could be seen. Deceased was given emergency treatment right awa'y, and preparation was made to give him a transfusion of blood. They tvere about to draw blood from his father’s arm when the boy died at 11.40 a.m. He was bleeding internally, and was a case of giving him some blood as quickly as possible. In witness’s opinion death was due to heart failure following internal haemorrhage. The Coroner then adjourned the inquest sine die to Balclutha. RAILWAY FATALITY. Mr J.'ll. Bartholomew, S.M., sitting as coroner at the morgue on Saturday morning, heard. evidence of identification concerning the death of Frederick Amos Joseph Benfoll, as the result of injuries received on Friday evening while engaged in shunting operations at Burnside. The deceased apparently was crushed between an engine and a meat wagon and became pinned under the wagon. One witness was called at the inquest, John Wm. Henderson, clerk in the Dunedin Railways goods department, who identified the body as that of Frederick Amos Joseph Benfell. Deceased was a shunter at Burnside railway station. He was a married man, aged 33 years, and had eight children. At this stage the coroner adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.