CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 45

CASUALTIES.

At the Inquest on the 15th on the bodj of * returned soldier named Archibald Johrf* scon, who was * member of the repatriation guard at Jfeathorston Oamp, a verdict wa* returned of. death from a revolver wound in the head, seif-innioted.

A motor accident occurred on the Waingamoa Hill. Nelson, on the 15th. One of Messrs Ncv>man Bros.' cars, in endeavouring l to avoid another car which was travelling in the opposite direction, went over the side of the road, rolling over twice in its descent. The car contained five passenger* and the driver, who sustained a fractured Jaw, while a passenger named Wyciki suf* ered injury to his back. All tho other* were severely shaken and bruised. Th« passengers were brought into town, ana tho two most seriously injured were admitted to the hospital. The police were notified on tho 15fch that Mrs Bills, aged 60 years, died suddenly at 10 o'clock at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr W. A. Lucas, 51 Russell street Henry John Earle, aged 34, a son of Mr A. G. Earle, a well-known resident of Otumoetae, formerly of Wendon ; Southland, was found dead on the 15th mst. H» Went shooting about 2 o'clock, and as h* did not return for tea a search was and his body was found. Apparently th* trigger of his gun caught when he WB4 getting through a fence, and the charge lodged in his head. He leaves a widow ana two young children. John Gordon Forbes, acetone welding expert for Messrs Collett and Son. collapsed finder an anaesthetic in'dental rooms at Dannevirke while having teeth extracted. Th* deceased, who was the only son Of the foreman in the boiler department at the Aldington Workshops, was aged 29 years. He leaves a widow and one .child.

Josephine Greene, aged 34 years, wu found dead hanging in an outhouse at her residence at Onehunga. She was suffering from insomnia after influenza, and for some months had been very despondent. At the inquest a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned. Tho inquest on the death of Hczekiah W. J. Turner, who died in a billiard saloon ia Wellington on April 10 from a revolver bullet which entered his skull, concluded on the 19th. Mr Frazer, S.M., gave a verdict that death was due to cerebral destruction and hemorrhage oaused by a bullet discharged from a revolver then in the possession of Martin, and that at the time of its discharge deceased was endeavouring, to obtain possession of the revolver. Oscar Wiihelm Nelson, a- seaman, about 36 years of age, shot himself with a revolver at Auckland. Ho had been depressed for some time, and had threatened to kill, himself previously in the presence of * woman. An inquest was held at the Morgue and a verdict of suicide was returned. Mrs Jessie Murray Pearson, aged 58 year*, was found dead in tho kitchen of her residence at 31 Cuttcn road. South Dunedin, early on Sunday morning. At an inquest held before Mr H.-Y. Widdowson, coroner, last night, John Pearson, railway enginedriver, husband of deceased, said that he arrived home at 2.30 a.m. on Sunday, and his wife was then in bed and asleep.' This was the last-time he saw her alive. He did not see her leave the bed in the morninf as ho was asleep. John Henry Pearson, eon of tho deceaseel, said that, on entering the," kitchen in the morning about 9 -o'clock he found his mother lying dead on the floor. Medical evidence was given to the effect that the deceased was a sufferer from heart disease, and a verdict vas returned that death was due to heart failure. Mr William Leslie, who had been acting as representative of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company at Riversdale, met with a fatal accident about 10 pmi. on April 18. In company with Mr William Lynch (also of Riversdale) and Mr ■ John Jones, the deceased was driving a motor car on his way to Lawrence. The car skidded on what is known as Carson'* Bridge, on the main road between Big Hill and Evans Flat, and overturned twice, pinning Mr Leslie underneath. When released Mr Leslie was in an unconscious condition, and he died within an hour after his removal to Lawrence. Mr Lynch and Mr Jones were considerably knocked about, the former getting his collarbone broken. Mr Leslie leave* a widow and a grown-up family of four son* and one daughter. Mr Joseph Bliok, a resident of Broad Bay, was driving home along the Lower Portobello road on Thursday evening at about half-past 5. and when near Russell'* a collision occurred with a motor comingin tho opposite direction. Mr Black wa» thrown from his cart, and was considerably out and bruised about the head. The horse must havo swung out to the harbour sid» when the car came round the corner, a* the car, in swerving in to tho bank, struck the cart end broke the body clean away from the shafts, and the horse bolted. Thes car lan up the bank, and was also rather badly damaged. The horse was caught along th» road, and Mr Black was mounted on it and taken to Green's, at Broad Bay, where his injuries were attended to. i He - is now abla to get about again, but it suffering a little from' shock. Mr Black says the driver of the motor oar was a Mr Parata. An unfortunate accident occurred at Waitati on Sunday. Mrs T. Downes, of that . township, was. driving Mrs M'Kenzie, an old lady, who lives with her daughter in. Mechanic street, N.K Valley, but who had been on a visit to Mrs Downes, to Warrington. When turning the corner on to the main road at Colehan'a corner the horse shied and ran the vehicle on to a large lop - lying on the side of the road. The vwS ladies were thrown out. Mrs Downes had her face and arm badly grazed, and the trap passed over her ankle. Mrs M'Kenzie, who had to be removed on a stretcher, also had her face and arm badly grazed. A doctor from Seacliff was quickly in attendance, and ho stated that no bones were broken, but that both ladies were considerably bruised and shaken. A number of neighbours did all that was possible to alleviate the sufferings of the patients until the doctor's arrival. A man named Thomas Lawrenson, agsd 49 years, married, of Cuba street, Linwood, was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital at 3 p.m on Sunday suffering from i the effects of poison, _ which had apparently beei taken hy mistake. The unfortunate man died two hours after admission to the hospital.