CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 43

CASUALTIES.

James Nasey, a labourer, aged 58, was drowned in Auckland Harbour on the 15th. With his- nine-year-old son, he was fishing from a boat, which capsized. The son was rescued by two other lads. The body was immediately recovered. At the inquest into the circumstances attending the death of Adolph John Schulenberg, who was fatally injured in a motor cycle accident at Wellington on the 12th, the Coroner said it was a pure accident, that could not have been prevented, and returned a verdict that death resulted from injuries caused by an accidental fall over a bank while riding a side-car attached to a motor cyclo. William Gothard, one of the proprietors of the Westport Times and Star, a journalist of many years' standing, went for a bathe on Utopia Beach on 'the 15th inst. About 5 p.m. he was seen in tho water by others, who had previously been bathing there. A little later a lad brought the news that a man's body was lying on tho edge of the water, and it was recognised as that of Mr Gothard. The body was still warm, and artificial restoration was tried for threequarters of an hour, but without success. A doctor, on arrival, pronounced life to be extinct, and stated that death appeared to have been duo to heart failure. The deceased was a frequent bather on this part of tho beach. He was 57 years of age. He joined the Times and Star as an apprentice in 1874, subsequently becoming partproprietor. Tho Coroner (Mr H. A. Young. S.M.) h"ld an inquest at Henley on the 16th into the circumstances surrounding the death of Francis Black, a farmer, aged 74, who was found hanging in a barn early on Tuesday, 15th ins't. The evidence showed that s ; x months ago the deceased had consulted Dr Moody, of Outram, for heart and otlmr troubles arising from senile decay. He appeared bright and cheerful on Monday night. At about 10 o'clock his only son. Eric, said he would go to bed. but deceased said ho would have a little walk .before retiring. Between 5 and 6-o'clock in +ho morning the son got up, and found that his father's bed had not been slept in. He then discovered the bodv hanging in the barn, and at once cut the rope and sent for Dr Moody, who found life to be extirW The Coroner found that deceased had died from asphyxia, due to hanging himself when In a depressed state of mind, arising from senile decay. David Sutherland, corporation _ employee, committed suicide at Invercarcrill bv cutting h'Y throat with a razor. Pie had been worrving over the war. his brother having recently killed. He leaves a widow, but no children. Tho ; n f«nt daughter of Thomas M'Clurg. of Redcllffs, aged one year _ and nine months, was drowned near Christchurch on the 17th inst. She wandered away, and presumably fell into the water. A serious accident occurred at Stuart and Chapman's tramline at Ross on the 16th. Thomas Elcock. 60 years of age, was run over by a loaded truck and his right leg smashed to pulrj below the knee. Mr George Dennis, a farmer belonging to Waikaia. aged 74 years, was found dead at Green Tsland Bush about_ 4 p.m. on the 15th. He was visiting his daughter. Mrs Moffat, and went for a walk in 'the bush It is supposed that tho cause of death was heart failure. The doctor at

Goro who had been attending the deceased has been communicated with by th< police, and in the event of his being pre< pared to issue a certificate an inquest will bo unnecessary. A stevedore named John M'Garry met his death in a strange manner at Napier. After knocking off work ho was under the influence of liquor, and at 8 o'clock he was found quito dead in Hardingo road, with his head through a picket fence. He had evidently fallen asleep, and been strangled. Several passers-by noticed him, but had no idea he was dead. While Mrs W. J. Fletcher was motoring down Parnell Riso her car skidded and crashed into a tram which was ascending the hill. The motor car was badly smashed. Mrs Fletcher waa thrown oufl. sustaining a fractured skull and thigh and internal jnjuries. Her condition is critical. Hugh M'Liven, single, a eignwritcr, re* S'dmg at Mount Eden, was admitted to Auckland Hospital suffering from the effeots of a dose of acid, from which h$ died a few hours later. He was recently operated on for appentioitis, and had been complaining of severe pains. John' Rigby, Dannevirko, 45 years of age, after being missing for some days, turned up nt his residency and hanged himself. He arrived from the South Island six months ago t An inquest was held, and a verdict waa returned that death was due to hanging, there being no evidence to show that ha was mentally deficient. A miner named William Downes met with an accident in the Blackball ooal mine last week, which terminated fatally, He was badly crushed in the back and chest, and had a leg broken, the result of a fall of coal. The deceased, who had beea a resident of the dominion for the pass three years, leaves a family of two —a of seven and a girl of two years.