CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2326, 29 September 1898, Page 20

CASUALTIES.

In leaving Trinity Church, DevonporC, oil the 18th inst., Mr E. S. Gibson, accountant of the Bank of New South Wales in Auckland, fell down a flight of steps in his hurry to catch the Auckland ferry steamer, aii injured himself internally. Mr Gibson died on the 20th from the effect of his in-* juries. At the inquest on the body of Thomas Whitaker at Christchurch the jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death by accidentally falling from a railway carriage on the Ashburton-Christchurch train, and added a rider to the effect that a cord should be run through the carriages so. that the driver and guard can be communicated with in case of accident. Tho evidence showed that deceased and his mate Avero both under the influence of liquor. At the inquesb at the Thames on the death of the. infant child of a single woman named Elizabeth Cook the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the infant bled todeath through the mother not tying the navel cord, and that tlie • failure to do so was due to the ignorance , and inexperience of tlie mother. Immediately after the inquest the mother was arrested, and will be charged with the murder of her infant. James Ingram, who was accidentally injured by a firewood saw at Schoolum's wood yard, Auckland, died on Friday at tha hospital. A cart backed into the yard and pushed him against the revolving saw,, which cut into his back. William Nixon, a labourer, aged 65, dropped down dead in Castle street at half past 6 p.m. on Thursday. Deceased had been in ill-health for some time past, and of late had been an out-patient at ths Dunedin Hospital. He was married, and" resided in Castle street. An inquest} was held on Friday before Mr R. H. Carew, S.M., on the body of William Nixon, who died suddenly in Castle street on Thursday evening. The evidence went to show that deceased waa a carter, 65 years of age, born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and had been 28 years in the colony. At 3.30 on Thursday afternoon he left his house in Castle street to go for a walk. Three hours later he was seized with an illness, and fell on to the foot* path. He was removed to the hospital, where it was found he was dead. Dr G\.. P. Brown, house surgeon at the hospital^ deposed that deceased had been an outpatient at the hospital, and death was probably due to heart disease. A verdict to that effect was returned. Matthew English, who was employed on, tho Otago Central railway, dropped dead at Eweburn on Monday afternoon. Robert Malcolm, 68 years of age, occupying the position of messenger to the Bank of Australasia, met with a mishap on Thursday, and had the misfortune to fracture his thigh. He slipped at the steep corner of Liverpool and Princes streets, and was at first taken home, but afterwards decided to go to the hospital for treatment. A youth employed at Messrs Findlay and Murdoch's timber yard, named Robert Robertson, met with a very painful accident on Thursday afternoon while working at a circular saw. His right hand in some way came in contact with the saw, and the thumb was severed. He proceeded to the hospital, where the wound was dressed. An inquest touching the death of Gordon Stewart M'Donald, the infant son of. Stewart M'Donald, of Waitati Flat, was held at Waitati on Friday before Mr B. H. Carew, S.M., coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr A. Kirkpatrick was chosen foreman. Mrs M'Donald, wife c£ Mr Stewart M'Donald, gave evidence thati deceased was about two and a-lialf months old. On Wednesday last the child, which enjoyed good health, was put to bed aboufc half-past 8. It slept between herself and her husband. Witness awoke aboufc a quarter past 1 o'clock and gave the cliildi a drink. It was all right then. She awoke again about 5 o'clock in the morning, and noticed that the child was coldHer husband's arm was drawn up near the upper part of the child's body, and witness thought that it covered the child's mouth, but she lifted up the infant so quickly that she could ~not remember-., Her husband awoke at the same time., They examined the child, but they saw no signs of life. They got up immediately, lit a fire and rubbed the child. A neighbour was sent for, but they could do nothing, as the child was dead. Witness never thought there was any danger in ther baby being between her and her husbands Two other children had been brought upthe same way. Dr Truby King gave ev£ dence that death was due to the child being overlaid, and a verdict to that effect' was returned. A fatal accident occurred on the main, road, Pungarelm, Taranaki, on Monday Art old Maori woman named Rahiri and her son were driving in a light gig. Theyt were passing an express driven by Mrr Kmgham, of Hawera, when the gig wenfi over a big stone. The woman was thrown out under the wheels of the express, whiclt passed over her, killing her instantane, ously. She was the widow of the welf* known chief Hone Pihama. On Saturday evening a Hawera settler at; leroti named George Roach took a drink; ot bird poison by mistake, and died n» great agony soon afterwards. «rP, ur Inyercargill correspondent writes a ..i ?r ody of Jolm Wilson, licensee o£ the Mataura Bridge Hotel, and formerly, ot Green Island, who disappeared juss seven weeks ago, was seen on Sunday? afternoon by Mr A. Doull, of Crescent^ farm, who reported to the police that tha body was caught in some willows on thet bank of the Mataura. Constable Bogusand a party from Wyndham proceeded to the place and recovered the body, whbli was conveyed to Wyndham. The features of the deceased were well preserved, coasidering the time the body was in th^ river. The body was fully clothed with] the exception of a coat and. hat. It will be remembered that after Wilson ta<s seen the children go to bed he strolled oufi of the house, which is only a few yarda i from the river, and it ia supposed fchsS1 to» ftccidsnyjx; JgH in.