ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20291, 27 December 1927, Page 10

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

CROSSING SMASH. WOMAN KILLED AND SON INJURED. (Pee United Peeks Association.) AUCKLAND, December 26. Mrs Ethel Brittin was killed instantly and her little son -was injured at the Argyle street crossing at Morniugside at 12.25 o’clock to-day. It is reported that she faltered at the crossing, and was struck by a local Outward-bound train. The boy, aged three, was taken to the hospital with a brokcjj. leg. The victim resided at Grey Lynn. SAILOR FATALLY INJURED. (Pee United Press Associath t AUCKLAND, December 26. William Hill Woodruff, aged 25, a marine on H.M.S. Diomede, fell from the ship’s gangway on Sunday evening, receiving injuries from which he died three hours later. He slipped when running down the gangway and struck a log fender between the warship and the wharf, receiving severe head injuries. The deceased was hurrying ashore on leave, and his fiancee, who was waiting for him on the wharf, witnessed the accident. MAORI BOY KILLED. (Pee United Peess Association.) GISBORNE, December 25. Christmas Eve was marred by a fatality near Manutuke, 10 miles from Gisborne, when a 13-year-old Maori boy, named •George Rikirangi, son of Rangi Rikirangi, met his death. A motor lorry conveying wool to town was crossing a small bridge when Rikirangi came on to the bridge from the other end. As the horse neared the end of the lorry it shied or stumbled, and Rikirangi was pitched on his head. He was picked up with a fractured skull, and died almost immediately. FIREMAN FOUND DEAD. (Pee United Peess Association.) WANGANUI, December 24. The body of a young man, a fireman on the Matakana, now lying in the roadstead, was found in the stokehold this morning. Apparently the man had been dead for some time. At present his identity is unknown. x DROWNED WHILE BATHING. (Pee United Peess Association.) PALMERSTON N., December 26. Cyril Coombe, aged 18, was drowned in the Manawatu River this afternoon while bathing. The deceased, who was unable to swim, was swept by the current into a deep hole. Two companions went to his assistance, but were clutched by the drowning lad in such a manner that th y had to fight to free themselves. In the struggle one rescuer was almost drowned, and the third had considerable trouble in getting his companion ashore. The body has not yet been recovered. CAR FALLS OVER BANK. ONE OCCUPANT KILLED. (Pee United Peess Association.) DANNEVIRKE, December 26, A motor ear containing Charles Dennis Murphy, a farmer and stock agent, single, aged 40, and Con Murphy, farmer, and a labourer named Frank Bishop, all of Norscwood, while proceeding from Dannevirko to Norsewood late on Christmas Eve went over an Bft bank about a mile from Norsewood. The accident occurred about 1 a.m. The three men, pinned underneath a three-seater car in a bog, were found by two motor cyclists about 6.20 a.m. on Sunday. Charles Murphy, son of J. Murphy, Norsewood, was dead, death apparently being duo to suffocation, and his companions were in a bad way from shook and exhaustion, their noses being just above the water. Otherwise they were unhurt. Bishop, who was driving the oar, pulled off a little to let an approaching car pass and. his car loft the road, tho passing motorists being apparently unaware of the mishap. SUDDEN DEATH. (Pee United Peess Association.) WESTPORT, December 26. Robert Brown, 55 years of age, died suddenly at his residence yesterday. Ten days ago he collapsed at bis work at. Te Kuhn and was admitted to the hospital. He had just, come out of the institution. WOMAN FATALLY INJURED. (Pee United Peess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 26. Mary Rutledge, single, acred S 3, residing at 14 Rossall street, Fendalton, was knocked down and killed bv a motor car in Bealey avenue, near Park terrace, about 10 p.m. on Saturday. Tho car, driven by Alfred Vivian Whitta, of 47 Rossall street, Fendalton, was travelling west along the avenue when the woman suddenly stepped out of the dark into the glare of the headlights. The car struck her but pulled up {(uickly. The woman was picked up from the roadway and removed to the hospital, but was dead on arrival. She had been in ill-health for some time and the doctor who attended her stated that she was unable to stand much of a shock. An inquest was opened and after formal identification was adjourned till January 4. YOUNG MAN’S DEATH. (Per United Press Association.) ASHBURTON, December 25. A young man named Rodney James Smith, single, committed. suicide at his home at Rakaia on Christmas morning. At the inquest it was stated that ho was in good health, and was not depressed or worried. He had conversed with his two brothers in their bedrooms at 2.30 on Christmas morning, but had given no indication of his intention to commit suicide. His mother found him in the morning hanging by a rope in a stable. He had been drink'ing, but not to excess. At one previous Christmas time he had threatened suicide. A verdict that he had hanged himself whilst of unsound mind was returned. SUDDEN DEATH WHILE BATHING. (Per United Press Association.) TIMARU, December 26. Frederick Shields, aged 68, a plasterer, died suddenly when bathing m shallow water at Caroline Bay to-day. Following dinner he went into the sea, and it is supposed that he was seized with cramp. There were hundreds of nearby bathers, and assistance was promptly given, but ah resuscitation efforts wore fruitless. The deceased was a married man with a grownup family. He was a local resident. WELL-KNOWN SETTLER KILLED. STEPHEN SPAIN’S DEATH. (Special tc Dailx Times.) ALEXANDRA, December 24. Stephen, ‘Spain, jun., of Earnsclough Station was run over near Clyde Kai - wav Station by a late train arriving; at Clyde about 11 on Friday night. ihe body was badly mutilated. Deceased s motor car was standing some short distance from tho rails. Tho particulars of tho accident are at present a complete mystery. An inquest is to, be held at o A correspondent informs us that when the car was found the engine was running und tho lights wore burning. It h thought that the deceased may have left the car to look for a dog, which hod perhaps jumped from the car and lhat the train came on him "bile nc was searching. . . , , The [.moral took place in Alexandra yesterday, and .was one of the largest or or cpoii in tho district. . , .« , At lire inquest evidence of identification was taken, after which it was adjourned. BODY FOUND AT LONG BEACH. NOT YET IDENTIFIED. On Sunday afternoon the body of a man about 25 years of ago was found m the near the locks at Long Beach. ' Mr 11. W. Bundle. S.M . sitting as coroner, held an inquest at Port Chalm W.. Bush, of Port Chalmers stated that in response to a ten?* phone message he motored to Long Beach and found that the body had been taken , out of the water by a •man named Nor- j man Brotherhood Turner. Ihe only rdotn- j in" was a singlet, and a search along the j beach later did not result in (he j binding of other clothes, _ The body | was that "f a man of fair iom- j pl'oxion. and dean shaved, his age being I anything iron. 25 to 30 years. blood was oozing from the ears, and there were | two or three bruises, which were probably

caused by the waves washing the body against the rocks. The constable considered that the man had died from drowning about two days previously and the injury to the heart might have been caused bv striking a stone on the bottom whine bathing. Inquiries were made, but people in the locality of the oeach had not heard of anyone missing. Constable M'Rae said he had seen the body, and be thought the cause of death had been drowning. The Coroner adjourned the inquest sine die. A post mortem examination was afterwards ordered. INJURIES TO HEAD. Stanley Butler, aged 28 years, received severe iniuries to his head and shoulder on Saturday afternoon through colliding with a Iramcar at Cargill's Corner when riding a motor cycle. He resides at 14 Forbnry crescent. FALL FROM TRAMCAR. Colin Hughes, who resides at No. ITT Carroll street, was admitted to the Hospital early on Saturday morning, suffering from ’ injuries to his head, received through falling from a tramrar in Princes street. KNOCKED DOWN BY MOTOR CAR. Esther Stuart was admitted to the Hospital on Satin day evening, suffering from a fractured shoulder and abrasions, received through lining knocked down by a motor ear on the Anderson's Bay road. She is employed as a cook at the Knritane Hospital.