ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

GAS POISINING OLD MAN. FOUND DEAD Peter Georgeson, aged 80 years, an old-age pensioner who resided in a detached room of a house at 25 Ruskin terrace, Caversham. was found dead in bed shortly after 7 p.m on Wednesday, with a gas stove turned on but unlighted. Dr Allan was summoned, and although he arrived shortly after the body was discovered, he could only pronounce life extinct An inquest was held yesterday morning, Mr J. R Bartholomew, S.M.. sitting as coroner. Sergeant Stark represented the police. Alfred Stott, the owner of the house tendered evidence that when he entered the deceased’s room there was a kettle on the gas stove, but although the gas was turned on. it was not lighted. Medical evidence was given by Dr Allan, who gave it as his opinion that death was caused by asphyxia due to gas-poisoning. A verdict in accordance with Dr Allan’s evidence was returned. A SCALDED ARM A young child, Bryan Wills, who resides at 25 Bowen street, Musselburgh was admitted to the Hospital at 4.45 p.m. yesterday, suffering from a scalded right arm. The injuries were received when he pulled a pot of boiling water off the range. FOUND DEAD IN ROOM NOTE ON KITCHEN TABLE i (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND. June 15. ‘ Lying 'beside a motor'cycle in a spare room at his home, the body of Alfred 'Frederick \7oice, a married man, aged 31, of Mount Roskill, was found early this evening by neighbours, who had suspected that there was something wrong. In the room there was a strong smell of petrol exhaust fumes, which are believed by the police to have been the cause of Voice’s death. Some days ago when the engine of his motor cycle was left running, neighbours observed that the electric light had. been left burning in another room in the house for two days, and they decided to investigate. The back door of the house was open, and they found a note dated June 11 on the kitchen table. Both the door and the window of the spare room, where Voice was in the habit f keeping his motor cycle, were closed, and on entering the room neighbours saw the body lying half-covered with a blankei about three feet away from the motor cycle. When a constable called at the house he found the petrol tank of the motor cycle almost empty. Recently Voice had been employed as a motor driver at Tahuna, near Morrinsville, and he returned to Auckland some days ago. He was ’iving alone at the time of his death. TRAIN STRIKES CAR FARMER FATALLY INJURED (Per United Press Association) PALMERSTON N., June 15. Val Croon, a retired farmer, of Shannon, was killed to-night when the express to Auckland struck his car at a crossing at Shannon. The car was completely wrecked, the driver being imprisoned inside. RAILWAY GUARD KILLED BODY FOUND ON TRACK (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON June 15. Edward Furness, a railway guard, aged 39. of No. 35 Thorndon quay was killed outright in the Thorndon railway yards at about 6.25 this morning. The deceased was a former Royal Navy man. whose wife lives in Eng land He served during the War as a leading telegraphist Furness was on a stock train bound for Petone It was waiting for the signal to proceed, and. as is customary the fireman waited for the guard to give the signal to go after the lights had changed The fireman saw Furness give the signal, the train moved off, and that was the last seen of him alive. The van was in about the middle of a line of trucks The driver of another locomotive in the yard noticed one of the rear trucks derailed and blew three or four blasts on his whistle The stock train stopped, and the driver and the fireman went back for the guard. They could not find him in his cab Hi? body was discovered behind the train, the last 10 trucks apparently having passed over it. It is presumed that the guard slipped after giving the signal. CRASH INTO POWER POLE MOTORIST SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH June 15 While returning from a dance at Amberley at about 3.25 this morning John Joseph Costley, aged 36. was seriqusly injured when the car he was driving crashed into a power pole at the side of the road near the Norlhcole settlement. He was taken to the Christchurch Hospital but died later. The deceased, with other of a dance band, was returning to Christchurch.