ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19532, 15 July 1925, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. (?eb United Press Association.) THAMES, July 14. Just after passing a bend on the Earn* Timber Company’s log railway on Sunday afternoon a box truck containing a number of workmen and sightseers jolted oft the rails and crashed down a 20ft bank into a swiftly-rnnning stream. A workman named A. J. M’Duff, aged 46 years, was pinned under the truck, and was in danger of drowning, when a companion came to his assistance and held his head above water until he could be extricated. An examination at the hospital disclosed injuries to the man’s head and back. All the other members of the party were more or less severely bruised. POUND DROWNED. (Pee United Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, July 14. The body of Walter Peters, a farmer, who disappeared on July 2, was foond in the harbour this morning. There was nothing to indicate how it came there. CAUGHT IN BURNING HOUSE. AN ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH. (Pee United Press Association.) WANGANUI, July 14. James George Harvey, an elderly man, was burnt to death in a fire which de-i stroyed a house at Okoia this morning. The other occupants had narrow escapes from the burning building. DEATH FROM EXPOSURE. (Pee United Psess Association.) NELSON, July 14. At the inquest on the body of Mr Colvia Craigie, orchard instructor at Mapna, who had been missing for some days, a verdict of death from exposure was returned. THE ALEXANDRA FATALITY. (Fbom Ou.b Own Cobbespokdent.) In connection with the death of Charles Edward Winter at Alexandra at midnight on Saturday, an inquest was held oh Monday. The evidence disclosed that dei ceased had journeyed down from Tarras, where he was employed by the Public Works Department, to witness a football match between the Tarras and the local club. He had been in good health, and while waiting for his car to retnrn home after a dance, which was held after the match, he suddenly collapsed and expired in a few minutes. The verdict was that deceased died by syncope caused through fatty degeneration of the heart. CHINESE PRISONER’S DEATH. (Pee United Bbess Association.) AUCKLAND, July 14. A Chinese prisoner from Samoa, Ip Vat, alias Yip At, serving a sentence of seven years in Mount Eden Gaol for the attempted murder of another Chinese at Apia in 1921, committed suicide early this morning by hanging. He performed the deed by tying a towel round one of the pipes in a lavatory in the infirmary quarters. An inquest was held to-night. Mr T. Vincent, superintendent of the prison, said the prisoner was known to bo suicidal. He was to be transferred to the, Waikeria Prison that morning. Dr Tewsley said the deceased attempted to commit suicide on June 19 by cutting his throat. After the first attempt witness had asked him if he would do it again, and the prisoner replied that he would if hi remained at Mount Eden. He wished ti be removed, and if that were done h promised to behave himself. The Coroner (Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M.v found that death was due to suicide by hanging. No blame or negligence eouli. be attached to anyone. DEATH FROM SHOCK. An inquest regarding the death of Mrs Annie Brennan was held at Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon by Mr J. R. Bartholomew, Coroner. Janies Brennan said that about 10 o'clock on Saturday night his wife went out to visit Mrs Keenan, a friend, with whom she stayed overnight On Sunday night she was brought home by a young fellow named Middleditch. Thete wad blood on her face, but otherwise she an-: peared all right, despite which fact Dr Borrie was called in. A little before 1C o’clock his son went into the mother’s bedroom and he came out and said she seemel to have ceased breathing. Dr Borrie was again called in, and he found she was dead. Deceased was about 60 years of age, and was born in Scotland. Witness said deceased often visited Mrs Keenan, and he was not concerned at her staying overnight. v Dr Borrie described his two visits to deceased on the night of the accident. On the first occasion he found her seated on a chair, her husband endeavouring to stop bleeding from a wound on the right side of her forehead. She was dazed, probably from the effects of the fall, and while he was dressing the wound there was a tendency towards collapse. She was male comfortable in bed and given something to counteract the shock. She was fairly well then, but wher. called in later he found she was dead. He attributed death to shock resulting from the head injury, which seemed to have been cansec by her falling and striking her heac against the kerbstone. A. W. Jones, quartermaster on the steamer lonic, said he and his friend, M. Campbell, were returning along Wickliffe terrace from a walk when they saw accused fall. They picked her up, and blood was then running down her face. She was dazed by the fall but talked sensibly. As they were strangers witness and his mate called on two youths to accompany Mrs Keenan home, and they did so. The Coroner said the fall was clearly accidental, and the verdict was to the effect that death was due to the shock res suiting from the fall.