ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21932, 19 April 1933, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

SUICIDE WHILE DEPRESSED (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, April 18. An inquest concerning the death of Mrs Isabel Duggan, aged 63, a visitor from Central Otago, whose body was found floating in St. Mary’s Bay on Saturday morning, was concluded to-day. Evidence was given that the deceased came to Auckland last month for the benefit of her health. Some time ago she suffered a stroke and was at times depressed. She had been staying with relatives in Ponsonby and had left the house only a short time before her body was found. The coroner returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide by drowning while mentally depressed through illness. FATAL GUNSHOT WOUND (Pee United Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, April 18. Donald Richard Stratton, aged 19, residing at Oringi, was fatally shot at 6 o’clock last evening. He had gone outside with a gun apparently to shoot rabbits and birds. The report of a gun was heard, and his brother on investigating found Stratton lying near a wood heap gasping. The circumstance* indicate an accident. STRUCK BY LADDER MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED.: - . ' I (Pee United Press Association.! WELLINGTON, April 18. An engine from the Central Fire Station when going along Featherston street to-night in answer to a call from a street box tried to avoid a collision with a motor car which suddenly turned in front, and in doing so the ladder of the engine struck J. M'Sperrin in the stomach. M‘Sperrin, who is a waterside worker, is believed to have been standing on the pavement when struck. He was taken to the public hospital suffering from internal haemorrhage. The engine was estimated to be travelling at 30 miles an. hour at the time, and when the brakes were applied it turned completely round. The motor car apparently was not struck. INDICATIONS OF SUICIDE (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 18. The body of Cecil Henry Alpin, aged 29 years, was found on his parents’ farm at Khandallah yesterday. There was a gunshot wound in the forehead and a gun was lying alongside the body. RELIEF WORKER KILLED (Pee United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 18. George John Christopher Bank, aged 51, died at the Christchurch Hospital to-night from injuries received this afternoon while on relief work on the Summit road. Bank, it is stated, fell heavily, striking bis chin on the rocky ground, and was rendered unconscious. UNION SECRETARY INJURED - (Per United Press association.) • AUCKLAND, April 18, Concussion and severe head injuries were suffered by a visitor from Wellington, Edward Kennedy, when he slipped and fell down a flight of stairs thia afternoon. Kennedy, who is the secretary of the Cooks and Stewards’ Union of New Zealand, was unconscious when he was admitted to the hospital. His condition was described as fairly serious to-night. Kennedy is a married man, and lives at Island Bay. He came to Auckland to attend the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, and he was present at the discussions to-day. MAN’S SUDDEN DEATH A man named Archibald Ritchie, aged 48 years, who resided at 9 Markei street, was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon at 4.30 and died an hour later. He was a moulder employed by Messrs Brinsley and Co., and" 1 had no relatives in New Zealand. An inquest will probably not be necessary.