VIOLENT DEATHS IN 1921

Otago Witness, Issue 3542, 31 January 1922, Page 25

VIOLENT DEATHS IN 1921

More violent deaths occurred in Melbourne in 1921 than in any previous year (says the Age). A record number of bodies was taken to the Morgue—772 in all, —71 in excess of any previous year, the nearest approaching it being 1914, when 701 cases were taken to the Morgue. So great was the volume of the work at the Morgue last year that in November it, was found necessary to increase the staff, and Constable L. A. Baker was appointed to assist the coroner’s orderly, Senior Constable E. M. Watson, from that month. ** The total number of bodies on which inquests were held at the City Morgue was, according to the report which has been prepared for the coroner (Dr R. H. Cole), 47 in excess of that in 1920, amounting to 439. Cases of accident which were investigated increased by 13, suicide by 8, ‘‘found drowned” by 12. Cases of fatal criminal malpractice on women show a decrease of 7. The total number of deaths reported—apart from those at hospitals . for the insane, which are investigated by Dr Cole on the spot—was 1122; 426 inquests were held at the City Morgue, 84 deaths -were reported to local justices for inquiry, and the remaining 599 were cases in which an inquest was not, considered necessary, post-mor-tem examinations, however, being made in nearly every instance. In addition, 27f$ deaths were reported from the asylums other than Mont Park. The total number of deaths reported was thus 1400.

The total number of railway cases was 46. including 7 suicides. There were 11 cases of wilful murder, as against 9 in 1920, and 10 persons were committed for trial on the capital charge, as against 6 in 1920. In 1920 there were also 14 committals for manslaughter, but in 1921 only 2. There were in 1921 21 tramway ■fatalities, including 5 on the electric tramways. Of the railway accidents, 18 wero steam railway fatalities and 11 electric. There were 31 motor cases, and in one ol these a committal for alleged manslaughter. There were 25 fatal drowning accidents, 12 drowning suicides, and 3 murders; 15 burning fatalities, including one which was followed bv a committal for trial (the Nunan’s buildings case). In 1921 there were 4 aeroplane fatalities, as against 1 the previous year. Shooting accidents numbered 4, shooting suicides 25, open verdicts in shooting cases 2, wilful murder by shooting 6—each of thesa

cases resulting in a committal for trial. Under the Lunacy Act every death at a lunatic asylum must be reported to the coroner and investigated. Twenty-six deaths at the Mont Park Asylum were thus inquired into at the City Morgue. Others investigated locally were as follow :—Sunburv, 48; Kew, 113; Yarra Bend, 83; Royal Park, 31; licensed houses, 3.