CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 38

CASUALTIES.

Robert Melton, aged 33, railway surfaceman, disappeared from his home on the 3rd. ►search parties were out all the week, and the body was discovered on the 9th hanging to a tree on a farm near Levin. Ihe deceased had been suffering from a nervous breakdown. He leaves a wife and three young children. A ictor Carter, aged 12, an inmate of Leslie Orphanage, slipped from the rocks into the sea while on his way to a bathing b-'E' near Mahurangi Heads. The matron (Miss W rjght) made a plucky but ineffectual attempt at rescue, but lost her hold on the lad, wno sank. The body was recovered on the 9th. Regarding the body of the man found in the Wanganui River on the 4th inst., the letter m the pocket addressed “Dear Ken” was Miss Prouse, Wanganui, to her brotner, Ken. Prouse, who had spent a few days at Ansford’s farm. Mangahutu, where -Jack Gardner was employed. Prouse had borrowed Gardner’s dungarees and left his sister’s letter in the pocket. The body has now been identified by Ansford as that of Jack Gardner, who had been reported as missing. Returning from a swim at Rona Bay, Well“Ston, on the 10th, Mrs M'Keegan, wife of Air Charles Ai'lveegaii, a well-known ongineer, collapsed, apparently from heart failure, und died shortly airerwards. The deceased’s son is on the engineering staff" of tne A loan a. Airs D. Hint, who met with a serious trap accident on Christmas Day, while driving from Kaiteriteri to Riwaka, died at Nelson on the 10th. The deceased was making a good recovery until a few days ago, when tetanus set in. Another drowning fatality occurred at Upper ilutt. A lad named Hector Al'Duft", aged 15 years, who was camping at Trentham with secondary school cadets, went swimming with a company of 100 companions. When the company was mustered after bathing the clothes of the deceased were found on the bank, and the body was found in a hole. The deceased was a high, school student. His parents reside at Paranai, Thames. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned. Ebenczer Johnson, aged 36 years, was found dead a t h; s residence, Auckland’ with a gunshot wound in his heart, A pea rifle was beside the body. The deceased followed the occupation of painter and signwriter. He was a single man. Ihe decomposed body of a man was found floating in the surf at Sumner on the 12th. It is believed to be that of the man who jumped into the sea from tho pier a fortnight ago, leaving hie coat and vest on the LV-. In the pocket of the coat was about £7 in cash and an address. John Baird, care of G. Studholme, Hinds. At the inquest the coroner returned a verdict that deceased was John Baird, and that fie committed suicide while of unsound mind. Louisa Annie Bannerman, married, aged 45. committed suicide by cutting her throat with a razor. At the inquest evidence was given that she was released on probation from the Slunnyside Mental Hospital last month. She had boon despondent, but hail shown no suicidal tendencies. A verdict of death from a razor wound in tho throat, self-inflicted whilst mentally unsound, was returned. At the inquest on the 13th touching the death of William James Hopkirk, an enginedriver, who died in the AVeilington Hospital 011 December 18 as a result of- injuries sustained in a railway collision between two engines at the Thorndon yards, evidence was given by Signalman Campbell that he gave the signal “Line clear” to Driver Lucas, but the engine driven by the deceased camo up on a parallel line behind Lucas. Although he gave out the danger signal, it virus not noticed in time to avoid a colilsion. Witness stated that frequently shunting engines failed to observe the signals, and he had often saved serious accidents. The coroner gave a verdict that deceased died as a result of shock resulting from injuries. He was unable to say that anyone was to blame for the accident. He thought that the system as disclosed by the evidence should be altered. Arthur Alassey, aged 35 years, fell beneath the wheels of a carriage when attempting to board the Gamaru train at Pareora at 4.50 p.m. on the 14th. Both legs were practically severed, and the unfortunate man succumbed at 6 p.m. At the inquest to-day a formal verdict of accidental death was returned. The body of Frederick Watkins, who was drowned at Manuka Island on December 23, was recovered from the river near Stirling on Friday by Constables Turner and Weir, and conveyed to Balclutha, where an inquest will be held.