Accidents and Offences.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 11 March 1882, Page 12

Accidents and Offences.

• A man named William M 'Donald' slipped onthp footpath 'in Princes street' on Saturday afternoon and fractured his left knee. He was ' .taker to the Hospital, where the injury was , attenled.to. Another man named 'George' I Ande rson was also received into the Hospital on Sa turday, , It appears, was put shooting ■ at Piie Hill' when his gun went off accidentally, and some of the shot entered one of 'the toes <Jf his left 'foot, r, ' i •, .; . , Mr Kitching; whose • woolshed ; <was' bunit down a short tune ago at Moa Flat station, has again suffered by fire, having on Wednesday l-'st h id his barn and stable on Beaumont farm destroyed.- .There i were three valuable horses in tne stable, but fortunately with good management they were got out in safety. The barn Contained several bales of wool, a thresh-ing-mill,, and a collection of farm implements, besides a buggy and a large quantity of hay ana oats, all of which were reduced to a heap of ashes. 1 The manager of the farm (Mr Snushall) was in [bed when the outbreak was first reported, and he cannot in any way account for the occurrence. The Tuapeka Times has heard that the building was insured, but the amount of the policy has not transpired. It is very doubtful, however, if the contents of the building were covered by insurance. An accident occurred on the main road near the Kensington railway-crossing on Monday afterrfoon, whereby a lad named John M'Laughlan, aged 17 years, had his right leg broken above the ankle. M'Laughlan was in the employ of Mr Johnstone, coal merchant, i Kensington, and had gone to the Kensington brickyard for the purpose of loading coal. Having found it necessary to adjust the bridle of the horse attached to the cart he was driving, he was in the act of doing so when it slipped off. The horse immediately bolted, and the lad stuck to it for a short distance until he was knocked down, when the wheel passed over his leg. The lad was picked up by Sergt. Macdonnell, who happened to be passing at the time, and taken to the Hospital. The injuries received are not of a serious character, and he is progressing very favourably. The horse was stopped in Princes street south before any damage was done. As Dr Stirling, of Outram, was driving in his buggy on Saturday, accompanied by Mrs Stirling and her sister, the horse shied at a flash of lightning, bringing the buggy short round on the lock and capsizing the occupants into the ditch at the side of the road near the Presbyterian Church. Mrs Stirling's sister had her shoulder dislocated, and sustained other bruises ; the others escaped with a few slight 'contusions. The buggy was smashed, and tlie horse bolted with the harness, but was caught uninjured shortly afterwards.

A Suspicious Fire.

Wellington, March 2nd. At an inquest held to-day on the recent fire in a milliner's shop in Mulgrave street, occupied by Mrs Ellen duller, some very suspicious evidence was extracted. The fire itself was not serious, having been detected and extinguished almost immediately it broke out, only some clothing in a box where it apparently originated having been injured. The stock, however, was insured for £200 in the Liverpool and London and Grlobe Office. The insurance olfice and Mrs Fuller, whose husband resides in Canterbury, were both represented by counsel. Tho jury returned the following verdict :—": — " The Jury are of opinion that this fire in Mulgrave street, on the 12th February last, w.xs tho work of an incendiary, and was done for the purpose of defrauding a certain insurance company called the Liverpool, London, and Grlobe. The Jury are of opinion that the Insurance Company is to blame in taking risks without carefully examining tho property to be insured, thereby holding out an incentive to h ccndiarisin. They think that the evidence showa strongly against Miy Ellon Fuller, and the Jury are of opinion that the goods claimed for were not on the premises at the time of the fire."