CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 42

CASUALTIES.

At the inquest on the 11th on the body of Emily Maria Gugwell, not Fug well as earlier reported, the jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane. The coroner stated that he had been endeavouring for some time to have carbolic >cid, by means of which deceased killed herself, placed in the first schedule of poisons. The adjourned inquest in connection with the death of F. Whitehouse at Bulls, as the result of an accident at the -second day of the Rangitikei races, was resumed on the 11th. The verdict was “Accidental death.” A rider was-added that racing clubs should do all in their power to keep the public away from the hurdles, as the practice is likely to divert the attention of horses. The evidence was to the effect that Arcadia (deceased’s mount) was close up to the rear of the field, and apparently did not see the jump. A fatal accident occurred at Hun ter - ville on. the 10th, the son of Mr Alexander M‘Gregor, a- well-known settler, having his back completely broken by the overturning of a waggon loaned with wood. Medical assistance was obtained at Palmerston, but death. _ occurred about 10 hours after the accident. Mrs Matthews, a young woman, aged about 21 years, residing in Dublin street, Wanganui, died while under chloroform in dental rooms on Saturday afternoon. At the inquest a verdict of death from heart failure was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone. Mrs Esther Muller, employed as a weaver in the Wellington woollen mills, was found hanging in a washhouse in' Ryan street, Peton-e, on the 15th inst. It is supposed that she had been dead since 10 o’clock this morning. Elizabeth Beresford, 40 years of age, unmarried, died suddenly in Christchurch on Saturday night, 15th inst., and at the inquest a verdict was recorded, after medical and other had been heard, of death from cerebral apoplexy. Annie Lynn, eight months old, daughter of James Lynn, of Sydenham, died suddenly on the 16th met. The cause of death is supposed to be whooping cough. A fatality occurred in Maclaggan street on Saturday, 15th inst. Shortly after 7 o’clock a foreigner named Christian Vecht, about 68 years of age, and said to be a resident of Palmerston, called at the Albion Boarding-house in that street and asked for accommodation. He wa-s given a room, and the servant who showed him upstairs noticed that he was under the influence of liquor. An hour later, the people in the house heard him fall downstairs, and he was picked up in a dying condition. Efforts at restoration were mads, but unsuccessfully, and about 9 o’clock the police were advised of the accident. Dr Evans was called in, and pronounced life extinct, stating that the man had been dead about an hour. The doctor said that he could not give the exact cause of death without a post mortem examination. The body was removed to the Morgue, where it was examined by the police, who ascertained that there was an abrasion on the lop of the head and one on the bridge of the nose. Mary Ann Sinclair, 13 years of age, who lived with her parents in St. David street, Dunedin, complained of a headache about 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon, and lay down on a sofa. Presently she went to her bedroom, where she lay upon her bed without undressing, and, after some time, she was seized with what appeared to be a fit. Her mother, who was attending to her, tried unsuccessfully to get her to swallow some brandy, and sent for Dr Martin, who came at half-past 6 o’clock. By this time, however, the girl was dead. On. Saturday morning Mr C. C. Graham conducted an inquest at the house. Dr Martin stated that he had examined the body of the girl, and he had noticed marks indicating an old operation for hydatis. It was ascertained that deceased had suffered fiom that disease two ago, and had been operated upon in the Dunedin Hospital. He considered that death -was clue to embolism, resulting upon the bursting of a hydatid, of which the condition and situation were such as to cause great trouble at any moment. He considered a post mortem examination unnecessary, and believed riuvfc an operation would have done little to relieve the sufferer. The coroner recorded a verdict in accordance with the guedical testimony. A young man named James Annand jffill heavily when cycling down Maclaggan on Saturday morning, and was 'hurt to the extent that he was removed to the Hospital. His injuries are not regarded as serious. Wm. Thompson, aged about 23 years, met with a fatal accident iu a gravel pit near Marion on the 17th inst. He was anga-ged in loading cart metal when a fall of gravel came down, burying him to the armpits and causing a bad fracture of the thigh and internal injuries. He gradually sank from shock, and died five hours’ later. His parents reside at Taihaps. Victor Baden-Powoll Martin, aged nine years, was drowned at We-stshore on the 17th inst. He had gone out in a boat by himself, and was subsequently found tying dead beside the boat in 18 inches of water. The boy could swum, and it is thought that he may have been struck on the head by some tackle. William Wade, single, a settler at ’Airedale, was 'found hanging in his hut pjh the 17th inst. Life was extinct. James Moyle, a married man, aged 34 years, met with a fatal accident on the 17th inst. He was employed on the top storey of Watson and Co.’s wool store, Invercargill, -and fell down the lift 50ft, the beam in his descent. He was taken to the hospital, where he died soon after his admission. A fatal accident occurred at Alexandra on the 17th inst. about 2.50 a.m., by which a dredgehand named Patrick Gallagher, employed as fireman on the Enterprise dredge, lost his iiig. At tH time

of the accident deceased was cleaning a lamp, and it is surmised that he slipped and fell into the driving-belt of the main engine, severing one arm from the body. Death was instantaneous. Deceased was about 53 years of age, and a widower with one child. On Wednesday last, Mr Hall, of Clinton, met with a nasty accident while loading wool. A bale fell on his leg, resulting in a severe bruising and a cutover the bones of the left leg. Dr Collier was soon in attendance, and Mr Hal! is progressing favourably under her care. The little daughter of Mr Erskine, of Fomahaka Downs, was thrown from a. gig, in which she and her father were driving. She was severely bruised, and received a fracture of the left collarbone and two ribs. Dr Collier attended the injured girl, who is doing well.