CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 34

CASUALTIES.

An elderly woman named Helena Parker, an umbrella mender, was found at her residence in Wellington with her back and right arm badly burnt. She was removed to the hospital, and her condition is so serious that two justices have gone to take her depositions. The woman is unable to account for her injuries. She states that her husband and she had gome words in the morning, and on leaving for work at 6 o'clock he expressed the hope that she would bo dead by night. She occupied a separate room to her husband. The latter asked her if she would have a cup of tea before he left. About an hour after her husband's departure she found that her dress, which was under her head, was on fire, and she was badly burned about the back and arm. She had no matches in her dress, and she cannot suggest any cauae for the fire. Her husband smoked, and she saw his pipe on the floor, but she could not say if there was any fire in it. The police have no suspicion of foul play. At the inquest on Monday tlie evidence threw no light on how the unfortunate woman received the severe burning which caused her death. There was evidence that she had been out of bad at a fire composed of coal, as some of the soup in the pot had gone, and there was a plate and spoon on a chair beside the bed. Witnesses who were the first to assist the woman on hearing screams deposed that the deceased could not account for the bed being on fire. Her husband said ho had not been angry with his wife, and he contradicted the witnesses who deposed otherwise. He said his wife had fallen into the fire some years ago in a fit, to which she was subject. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

The Southbridge correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes :—": — " News has come to hand that a fatal accident has befallen one of the fishermen at Taumutu named Lindrose. It is stated that he went out in his boat on the lake on Sunday, and was shortly afterwards overtaken by the severe gale which blew on that day. Some of his fellow-fisherman who were on the shore watched him being driven away from the land, but they could not render any assistance on account of the fury of the gale. At last those on shore lost sight of the boat. Up to the present tima no sign of the boat or occupant has been seen."

Walter A. Tate, aged 24 years, employed as a clerk in the Permanent Investment and Loan Company's office, Greytown North, committed suicide on Thursday. He was found in the English Church there with a bullet wound in his head, the bullet having glanced off and caused a scalp wound. There was also a bullet Waund in the lower part of his left breast. No c mse is assigned for the act. Deceased bore an excellent character.

Magnus Peterson, organist of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Wellington, accidentally choked himself whi'e at dinner on Saturday, and died before any remedy could be applied. He tad only been in Wellington about a year. It appears he was in the act of Bwallowing a small piece of meat when he coughed, which drove the meat back and blocked the passage. Medical aid was sought immediately but it was of no avail. Dr Grace having given a certificate of death no inquest will be held.

At Napier last week two deaths of men under the influence of liquor have occurred. One was Andrew Hansen, a labourer, who fell into the harbour on Saturday night. A verdict was returned of "Accidentally drowned." A similar verdict was returned in the case of W. R. Fairbrother, a Meanee settler, who fell down on the road with his face in the water chaunel, where there was only a few inches of water. A very old settler at Napier named William Parker, aged 71, dropped dead on Monday from failure of the heart's action. The inspector of police has been notified by wire from Cromwell that John Menzies was accidentally killed on Saturday night through falling over a deep mining face at Bannockburn. Deceased had lost his way at the time. An old man named Edward Clarke, who was in receipt of ch.aritable.aid, was found dead in his hut at Inchclutha on Sunday. A young man, supposed to be an Italian or a Swiss, who came from Timaru on Friday night, was found dead in a watercloset at the Ashburton railway station. His name was supposed to be " Harry Montalebert." The Timaru Herald learns from the police that a man named Harry Montalerge, who was boots and barman at the Club Hotel, and recently in the employ of Mr M 'Guinness at the Ship Hotel, lefc Timaru by Friday evening's express for Ashburton, and there is no doubt he is the person referred fco. He was a native of South America, of mixed extraction, and was about 27 years of age. He came to Timaru from Invercargill about four months ago, and is said to be well known there. He was a quiet man, of sober habit?, obliging manner, and whilst at Timaru enjoyed perfect health. The causp of his deafcb at Ashburton is not stated.