CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2083, 25 January 1894, Page 20

CASUALTIES.

The death of a married woman named Mary Ann Hollis, the wife of a letter carrier residing in Wellington, was reported to the police on the Ufch inst. The deceased had been suffering from heart disease, and, becoming low spirited, on Monday swallowed a number of matches. On Wednesday she became very ill, and, on a doctor betfg called in, admitted having taken matches. Emetics were administered, bat without result, and the woman died during the night. At the inquest on the 12th the medical evidence showed that match poisoning had not had much to do with her death. The heart was ruptured, and its condition was such as must have resulted in almost instantaneous death. She admitted taking five or six boxes of matches. The husband of the deceased said that the relations between himself and his wife were of a cordial nature, but she suffered severely from heart disease. A verdict of " Death from rupture of the heart " was returned.

The body of Thomas Roberts, an employe at the Globe mine, was found on the 11th inst. in a deep hole in the Inangahua river, under the Reefton cart bridge. The case appears to be one of deliberate suicide, and makes the fourth incident of self-destruction in the same pool within two years. The reduction of the staff and the prospects of the mine, in which he was a large shareholder, are supposed to have preyed on his mind. A married woman — Ellen Hill, aged 30 — was found drowned at St. John's Lake, Auckland., It is supposed to be a case of suicide. Deceased had recently been in the Avondale Asylum. She left her home on the 11th inst., and was found after a long search by her husband and friends in the lake. Her detention in the asylum was on account of insanity, brought about by grief at the death of a daughter. On the 12th inst. the dead body of a man was found lying on his back in 12 inches of water in a creek at Pahiatua, Wellington. The body was dressed in tweed trousers, boot?, shirt, and undershirt. There was a cut over the left eye and another near the mouth. Deceased's watch and other belongings were picked up on the road near where the body was found. Subsequently the body was identified as that of a man named Alfred Harris. At the inquest Dr Gault, who hßd examined the body of the deceased, said that in his opinion death was due to drowning. He had found no indication of any kind that would lead to any supposition of foul play. Further evidence showed that Harris had been wandering about talking strangely. Constable Cooper said there was between 12 and 15 inches of water in the creek at the place where the body was found, and that the position of the body would lead one to think that the man had walked in and lain down. Walter John Harris recognised the body as that of his brother Alfred Harris. The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned, with no evidence to show how he came in the water."

A man named George King of between 65 and 70, formerly a carter and an old resident of Nelson, committed suicide on the 10th by hanging himself in his own stable. He was discovered by his wife, who had missed him for about an hour.

Thomas Crimmins, reported missing from Opotiki, was found drowned in the Waioeka river on the 12th inst.

Thomas Flannagan, aged 15, 0n1y son of Flannagan, senior warder of Mount Eden Gaol, Auckland, was accidentally killed at Helensville. He went up on the 9th for his holidays, and the next day went with Mr Kavanagh into the bush to get a load of sleepers with a three-horse team. In coming out of the bush the load capsized and a sleeper struck young Flannagan, killing him instantly.

A man named Joseph Simpson Figg, who had been remanded at Christchurch to the hospital for medical treatment, died there. At the inquest on the 13th inst. a verdict was returned of " Death from pneumonia and failure of the heart's action caused by alcoholism." The unfortunate man was a native of London, and was for some time a partner in the firm of Brown, Figg, and Co, , merchants. He came to Australia about nine years ago, and held several important positions. On coming to New Zealand he was appointed head of Messrs J. E. Nathan and Co/s tea business, and afterwards came to Dunedin. The deceased, who was about 38 years of age and a particularly smart business man, was a brother of one of the largest merchants in Mincing lane, London.

A sad drowning accident happened at Palmeraton North. A man named Georgo Davy and his brother were bathing in Lake Awapuni, when the former disappeared, despite the gallant efforts of his brother to rescue him. The body was recovered, but all efforts at resuscitation failed.

Eliza Johnson, a married woman, living at Taradale, Hawke's Bay, died suddenly on the 16th inst. Her husband had left tho room fora short while, and on returning found his wife dead. She had complained lately of pains in the head.

Three brothers named Tippler wero boating in a lagoon near Pencarrow Head, when one fell out and was drowned before the otherß could rescue him. The father of the young men died recently just after his shop was burnt down.

W. J. Constant, the licensee of the Thames Hotel, Shortland, committed suicide on the 10th inst. by cutting his throat with a table knife. It appears as though the deceased, who had been in bad health for some time past, made two attempts to commit the deed — the first being in his bedroom, where he inflicted an ugly gash in the throat, and the second iv a closet, after having sharpened the knife upon a piece of brick or stone, which was subsequently picked up close by, being smeared with blood. The throat was cut up and down, instead of across as is usual in such cases, and went right through to the root of the tongue and into the bottom of the throat inside. The medical evidence waß to the effect that, even if the wound had not been inflicted, the deceased could only have lived a few days— a week at the outside, — as the cancer in the stomach was very far^ advanced. Owing to the complication of the diseases deceased must have suffered very great pain. A verdict of death while temporarily insane was returned at the inquest. It was reported to the Kawakawa police on the 10th that Fred Low, storekeeper for Mr_C. C. Napier, at Pukete, was missing. A notice was found tacked to his door, in his own handwriting, stating that he had gone out t@ commit suicide. News has now c*me in from Kawakawa that his remains have been found, with the heaa nearly blown off. The body was considerably disfigured by pigp. The two-year-old son of Joseph Hambrook, a carpenter, was burned to death at Takaka, Nelson, on the 16th. The child was left asleep in a cot, but on wakening apparently obtained matches and set fire to the house. A neighbour seeing smoke entered the house and found the child a charred mass. The fire was extinguished.

A boy named Caygill, seven years of age, was eating plums in Christchurch on the 17th, when a stone lodged in his throat. His mother was unable to remove it, and before a doctor arrived theboy was dead.

A man named Frank Rossiter was killed on tho 15th by a kick from a horse at Mistake station, 30 miles beyond Fairlie, Canterbury. A boy named Francis Sherratt, 13 years of age, was drowned in a dam at Wetherstones on the 17th inst., while bathing. The body was recovered next day. The boy was a bright and intelligent young fellow. A young man, 19 years of age, named Hopkins, shot himself with a revolver at Christchurch on tho 18th, and died about an hour and a-quarter after the occurrence. The infant child of Mr Edward Gayton, of Macraes, died suddenly on the 16fch inst. The child had been prematurely born, and was very weakly. On Tuesday a boy named R : chard Gapes, 12 years of age, jutnped off the Sumner tram while it was in motion. The wheels of one of the cars passed over his left leg, crushing it so badly that it was necessary to amputate it at the hip. John James Kelly attempted suicide at Carlton, Auckland, on the 17th. He swallowed a sma'l bottle of chlorodyne, saying that he was tired of his life. He was taken to the hospital, and is now progressing favourably. A painful accident occurred (says the Tuieri Advocate) the other day to Mr John Stevenson, of School Gully, Otakia. He was driving in his milking cows in the morning, when he was attacked by a bull, which rushed at him furiously. He was unable to get clear, and was badly knocked about and gored. His continued absence was noticed by Mrs Stevenson, who, fearing that an accident had occurred, went to the paddock in search of her husband. When she entered the paddock the infuriated animal rushed at her and tossed her down a bank. Mrs Stevenson's screams brought her son to the scene, and he arrived just in time to prevent the bull attacking Mr Stevenson a second time. Mr Stevenson was lying helpless in the paddock, and it would have fared badly with him had the bull not been prevented from again attacking him. He was conveyed to his home, where he was attended to by Dr Cattan. It was found that several ribs were broken and that the spine had been injured, while he was also severely cut about the head. Mrs Stevenson's injuries were fortunately not of a serious nature, but she, too, had a narrow escape. We learn that Mr Stevenson is making satisfactory progress, and that none of his injuries are likely to be permanent. The bull has since been destroyed. A man named White, attempted suicide at the Watrau Hospital, Blenheim, on Thursday. While the others were at tea White entered the surgery and drank a quantity of morphia. ■ He then made for the hills, but was observed and brought back, and, an emetic beiDg administered, he is now out of danger. An infant 10 weeks old, son of Mr Frederick Cates, of Washdyke, lost its life on Thursday (says the Timaru Herald of Friday) under circumstances peculiarly distressing to the parents. Mrs Cates washed the child, which was in good health, about 9 am., and put it to Bleep in a swinging cot, placed a piece of muslin over ifc, and went about her household duties. Being very busy she did not lift the muslin to look at the child, and was rather pleased that it slept so long and allowed her to get on with her work. At noon, when Mr Cates came in for dinner, he lifted the muslin, and found that the infant, which had been laid down on its side, had turned upon its face, and; shocking to relate, had been smothered. Dr Reid was sent for, but he could do nothing. The child had been dead some time when he arrived.

A boy aged 12, named Atkinson, fell down a shaft at Hoho, Weßt Coast. When recovered it was found his head was very much knocked about. It is thought there is no chance of his recovering. Horace Talbot, a labourer, employed by Mr Mem, was killed in the bush near Fortrose on Saturday, through a tree which he was cutting falling on him. There was no one with him at the time, but death is believed *to have been instantaneous. The deceased was 43 years of age. John Caldwell, aged 16 years, the son of W. P. Caldwell, of Larrikins, wa6 drowned while bathing iv a dam at Kumara on the 15th. William Strachan, over 60 years of age, was found hanging dead in an outhouse at his residence, in Wellington on Tuesday. He was a steady, sober man, but had been depressed lately owing to money matters. At the inquest the evidence showed that Strachan had been in a despondent state for some time, owing to financial troubles. A verdict of " Suicide while temporarily insane" was returned.

Mrs Gibbons, keeper of a refreshment room at Lyttelton died suddenly on Monday. She had complained of pains at her heart all day, and went, to bed at the usual time. « She was heard at 11 30 p.m. to come downstairs to get a drink, and appeared to return to her bedroom, but next morning her son found her lying dead in the sitting room, through which she had to pass in order to reach her bedroom. On the counter was a glass and half a bottle of gingerale. She had apparently died quietly, as her adult son heard no disturbance. She was a sister of Mr W. B. Allwright, postmaster at Lyttelton, and was a prominent member of a Good Templar Lodge. She leaves a husband and several children, most of whom are grown up. A young man named Robert Patrick, a resident of Okarito, took a fit on the 14th inst., and died 28 hours later. He had sustained a sunstroke.

A man's skeleton was found on Suuday in the scrub at Henderson, 11 miles from Auckland. There was a bullet hole in the forehead, and one barrel of a revolver had been discharged. The other barrels were loaded, and in deceased's pockets were nine cartridges. There was also about £14 on the body. A second search led to the discovery of a secret pecket in the clothing and the finding of a certificate deposit for £60 in the name of Neal Jansen in an Australian Co-operative Company, 111 Elizabeth street, Sydney, dated December 1, 1893. At the inquest the jury returned an open verdict.