CASUALTIES;

Otago Witness, Issue 1852, 20 May 1887, Page 18

CASUALTIES;

William L. Shepherd, a 20 years' resident at Blenheim, 1 committed suicide on the 12th by blow* ing his brains out with a pea gun such as is used in' shooting galleries. He had been despondent ' and ill' for some time. .At -■ the inquest evidence was given that the deceased had, been drinking, and a 1 verdict of temporary insanity, induced. by financial, difficulty, was returned. . '< -> John M'Phee, employed at Findlay and Co.'s factory, had his ankle broken on Friday through a sling of slabs slipping and. falling on him. He was taken to the hospital "and attended by Dr Roberts. , Au accident occurred at Otakia on Thursday morning by which a boy named Alexander Rehton,,aged 10, lost his, life. He was driving to school in a cart in company with His brother William (aged 14) and his 'sister Maggie (aged; B),and feeling cold, got j out ,tk> walk. , While walking along beside the horse, he slipped and fell and the wheel of tne cart passed over bis body. 1 Dr M'Caw was sent for and did ( all inliis power, but the boy gradually sank and died during the afternoon. ,Mr Carew will hold an ' inquest at Ofcakia to-day. '-,'.' , "± : i A woman named Rachel Merritt was admitted into the hospital on Saturday, night from South Dunedin. She was rather badly burned about the legs and face, her injuries' having been caused through the upsetting of a kerosene lamp.,, , An, inquest was, held .at.Qtakia Saturday,! before Mr B. H. Carew, R.M. and coroner^ touching the death of Alexander Fraserßentonj who was killed on Friday by the -wheel of a cart passing over his body. From the evidence given it appeared that the deceased was 11 years old. He left his home for school about a quarter to 9 o'clock in the morning in 'a spring cart, : and was accompanied by his brother William (12 years) and his sister Maggie (eight years). William was driving. They had gone,- about half a mile, when deceased, saying that he was cold, got out of the cart to have a run. He had caught hold of the shaft of the cart, and while running thus his brother saw him trip and, fall; the wheel passing over his body .before, the cart could be stopped. He lifted himself up, but just as his brother reached him; fainted away. He was lifted into the cart and conveyed home, where he was attended to by Dr M'Caw, who could hold out no hopes of the deceased's recovery, as he was suffering from internal injuries. The lad regained consciousness, but died it), a few hours., A verdict of " Accidental death " was returned.

A fatal mining accident is reported from the Lammerlaw ranges, about six miles from Waipori. A man named, John Madden, better known as " Kumara Jim," had a sluicing claim on a spur in Timber Gully, which he worked, by himself. He was last seen by a miner named Charles M'Lean on the track leading , to his claim, which is about three miles from his hut, on Friday week last ; and as M'Lean had hot -noticed him since, nor seen any footprints along his track, he began to suspect that some misfortune had overtaken him, and at once went to his claim to ascertain. On going there, he found that the whole face of the claim for about 70ft, back bad fallen in, and naturally concluded that Madden was buried underneath. He immediately secured the assistance of two miners named Ritchie and Thompson and several others , working in the ' vicinity, and the party set to work to unearth tjbe remains. They worked all day on Wednesday with great exertion, digging, and - sluicing the - eartb, and towards night they succeeded in coming on the body of the unfortunate digger, who had been buried under about sft of .earth. There was a large stone on his head, which was badly orushed, and he was otherwise badly bruised. He had to all appearance been buried for some time, and was just about sft . from the edge of the slip, being evidently overtaken in his attempt 'to get away. . The body was removed to , Waipori, but Mr Revell ([who happened to be there) did not think an inquest necessary. The unfortuaate man was unmarried, and "was in his 46th year. He was one of the discoverers of the Kumara, and shared in the Government reward. He was a son of ,Dr Madden, of Melbourne. :

A child of four years, named Mary Ramsay Stinton, living at Menzie's Ferry, Wyndham, was fatally burned on Saturday. The mother went out to milk the cows, leaving the. child in the kitchen, and on returning found the girl's clothing in a blaze, and before the flames were extinguished she was so severely burned that she died five hours afterwards. > '

Mr^ W. S. Munday, registrar of births and commission agent, shot himself .through the heart on Sunday night at; Westpbrt. He was formerly collector of customs there. He left a . note saying that he coul.l riot account for ihe infirmity he was suffering from, but it seemed he or his person was obnoxious to many, and he therefore took his life. At the inquest a verdict of " Temporary insanity " was returned.

Mrs Clinkard, a sister-in-law of Mr Glenny, the stationmaster at Onehunga, has mysteriously disappeared, leaving a letter hinting at suicide on account of some trouble. A search has been made for her Bince Friday night, but Without effect. ' ;

.Theremains of the late Mrs M'Dermid were interred on Wednesday afternoon in, the family burying ground at Glendermid. No doubt in honour to the deceased' lady, a very large assemblage of old settlers was present. The rpmains , were interred close to those of her husband (the , late Mr Hugh M'Dermid, M.P.C.) Th« body was conveyed to the grave by her nons, assisted by some intimate friends, and the Rev. .Mr Ryley performed the' funeral .ceremony.