CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3615, 26 June 1923, Page 33

CASUALTIES.

Robert Gray Newell, an elderly man, wuo was found in a state of collapse in a Wellington street on the 15th, died in the hospital on the 18th without regaining consciousness. He is believed to have res.ded in Petone. A serious accident to the guard of the B.'enbeim-Picton train was averted by the prompt action of the engine-driver ill applying the emergency brakes. Guard Flail left the train at Spring Creek, and, aftersignalling it out again, attempted, in the usual manner, to board it while in motion. However, he stumbled in the depression on the permanent way, and swung in under the wheels of the train. The enginedriver. who had been watching, promptly applied the emergency brakes, and the train came to a standstill with a jar, the wheels being within a few inches of the guard's body. Hie inquest concerning the death of Miss Joyce Ransom, who died as the result of injuries received in a railway crossing accident on Friday, was concluded on the 17th. The driver of the car which was run into by tho train said he did not see the train til! it was within six yards of the crossing, and that before he could do anything the Gain was on them. Miss Ransom jumped from Die car, and was struck by the engine. i fie coroner found that death was due io shook and injuries received through a collision. l n a rider he said he considered that trains went at an excessive speed over the crossing, and urged the need of the installation of public safeguards. ihe Body of James Arthur Brown, aged 70. of George street. Mount Eden, was found on the 18th inst. in a dam at Western Spring's, flying face downwards in 2ft of water. me deceased, who had been missing since Saturday morning, had been in indifferent health laiefy. Mr K. G. Mervell, a well-known resident of Petone, was found unconscious in the street on the 15th inst. and was taken to the hospital. He never regained consciousness, and died on the 18th. At the inquest it was stated that the deceased had suffered from the effects of Bright’s disease and that death resulted from natural cause. Ernest Eade, a retired farmer, living at Feildir.g, committed suicide on the 20th by shooting himself. lie stood on the bans of a lake in Kowhai Park, and the body fell into tho lake. He leaves a wife and two young children. No reason can be assigned for the act, as the deceased was in comfortable circumstances. At the inquest on A. G. Stratton, labourer, who was found dead in Christchurch with a bottle of iodine near his bed, a post, mortem examination showed that death was due to coma, the result of acute alcoholic poisoning. The coroner said that a letter indicated that Stratton intended to commit suicide, and possibly he thought that an overdose of liquor would effect his end; but the iodine was used for a poisoned finger. Mary Ross, aged five years, the daughter of a farmer named George Ross, residing at Wharehuanui, Lake Wakatipu, died ill the Lake County Hospital on the 16th as the result of severe internal injuries received in an unfortunate accident early in the afternoon. It appears that 011 the farm she child anti an elder brother were hanging on to the back of a sledge on which a chaff-cutter was being transported. When going up an incline the hors? gave a jerk, and the chaff-cutter was precipitated backwards off the sledge. The boy managed to jump clear, but the girl was pinned underneath. Iler father managed to raise ihe chaff-cutter a little, and the boy drew his sister out. The victim was found to be badly crushed. Medical assistance was immediately summoned, and the child was removed to the hospital, where Drs Anderson and Ferguson did all that was possible to restore consciousness. The unfortunate victim, however, never rallied, succumbing to lie*- injuries about 9 p.lll. An inquest was held in the afternoon before the coroner (Mr D. F. Sutherland), and a verdict was brought in in accordance with the medical testimony that death was clue to internal hemorrhage caused by the accident. The dead body of a young man named Walter Hall, employed fcv a chemist in Palmerston North, was found when the premises were openetl on the 21st. Ad inquest was opened and adjourned. Deceased served in the New Zealand Mounted Corps during the late war, and was on L.e hospital ship Mabeno during the evacuation of iho wounded at Galnpch to base hospitals , , ~ When making his rounds on the Mar area on Monday morning on the voyage from Lyttelton, the watchman, (Donald Shaw) found a passenger who had booked under tho name of R. M'Lean lying on the deck, anoareiitly asleep. On shaking him Mr fchaw fourtd that he was dead. Ail inquest was held on the 21st. A post mortem examination revealed that the deceased had died as the result cf cyanide poisoning. there was’ found to be a quantity of prussic acid in the stomach. The deceased was last 9 „ e n alive at 6.50 a.m. on Monday, and he was discovered at 8.30. Nothing furtner is known of ihe man. At the inquest the coroner found that death was due to poison, self-administered. The deceased was a single man, a labourer, with no fixed address. Michael Molloy, aged 75 years, a name of Ireland, and a resident of Master!on for 40 years, died suddenly while gathering wood in the Waipoua River on the 22nd. A verdict that death was due to heart failure following exertion was returned at the inquest. A miraculous escape from death occurred when a motor car crashed into the Inver-cargiil-Tuatapere train at Wnllacetown on the 22nd. The driver of the car. on seeing the train, swerved in the same direction as the train was going, and this probably saved his life. The train tossed the car off the line, smashing it hopelessly, but the driver was only slightly bruised. The locomotive, which was badly smashed, proceeded on its journey. Herbert White, a seaman on the trawler Nora Niven, has been reported missing. He is believed to have been drowned. He was a widower, with six children. A search for the body in the harbour at Napier has so far proved fruitless. By cutting his throat with a razor, William Johnston. 54 years of age, residing at

21 Crieff street, Northland, Wellington, committed suicide on the 23rd inst. He was discovered at 4.40 a.m. and removed to the hospital, but died on the way. tie was a married man, and had been in ill-health for some weeks.

Richard Gill, a carpenter employed on the Publio Trust Buildings, Blenheim, fell off the scaffolding, and was removed to tho hospital. It is believed that lie is suffering from internal injuries. Hugh Findlay, aged 43. a bottle dealer, of Christchurch, was charged before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., on the 23rd with attempted suicide on June 12. Sub-inspector Simpson said that accused had a disagreement with his wife, and went out to the chaiThou.se, where his wife found him suspended by a rope. She cut him down, and he seemed to be none the worse for the experience. He was drunk when the police arrived. Accused said bis business took him into hotels, but he had thrown vp that part of it, and taken oar. a prohibition order. Accused was discharged.