CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3694, 30 December 1924, Page 33

CASUALTIES.

AUCKLAND, December 22. The body of a man was found on I!angitoto Island to-day in a decomposed state indicative that the deceased had been washed up on the beach some considerable time ago. Tho features were unrecognisable. Papers found on the body bore the name of John Grant Macandrew, an electrician. December 23. The body found on Rangitoto Island has been identified as that of John Grant Macandrew, electrician, who had been missing since November 11. December 25. The evidence at the inquest on the body of Mrs Susannah Fernley Ellis, aged 72, showed that deceased was visiting Auckland from Waihi, and swallowed a, quantity of poison at 1 p.m. She died at 9 p.m. A verdict of suicide by swallowing corrosive poison was returned. December 28. An elderly man named John Bailey was either pushed or struck outside a hotel yesterday afternoon. Bailey fell heavily, receiving injuries to his head. He is still unconscious. The police have detained another man in connection with the incident. ROTORUA, December 24. Robert Shelton, a farmer at Kaharoa, married, with a family of small children, died in the hospital as the result of spinal injuries received through being dragged by a horse on his farm. An operation was performed, but was unavailing owing to the extent of the injuries. NEW PLYMOUTH, December 23. Roy Norman Jones, aged nine, was killed by a fall from a horse on the Oruti load this afternoon. It is presumed that the horse stumbled, throwing the boy into a drain containing 2ft of water. The horse fell on the boy, who was dead when picked up. WAIROA, December 22. A motor accident occurred yesterday afternoon on iVlohaka Hill, when a car containing Mr and Mrs Stewart, Mr and Mrs Peterson, and their families (of Mouthora) somersaulted down the hill with the occupants, who were badly bruised and knocked about. Several were removed to Wairoa Hospital, where they are now doing well The car was badly damaged GISBORNE, December 22. During shunting operations at Makaraka, a cream wagon collided with a motor car, crossing the roadway, the car being smashed to pieces. Its driver (Talbot), with his wife and family, had a miraculous escape. LEVIN, December 22. The south-beund New Plymouth express, running late on Saturday afternoon, collided at tho level crossing at the entrance to Levin railway yard with a motor delivery van, owned by C. H. Martin (grocer), and driven by R. Anderson. The van was carried about 20 feet, and thrown off the line on to the opposite side, where two boys were standing on the footpath waiting to see the train pass. One, Wilfred Martin, was struck on the hear, sustaining a fractured skull and severe wounds. He was taken to Palmerston Hospital to-day. The other, a Chronicle runner, Gordon Milroy, was rendered unconscious, but is now recovering. . The driver escaped unhurt. The van was bodly knocked about. PALMERSTON N., December 28. A youth named Thomas Smythe sustained a gunshot wound in his chest at a public shooting gallery oil Saturday evening. Smythe fired eight rounds, and, while the proprietor was adjusting the target, he heard a muffled report, and upon returning to the shooting range found the customer gone, and on looking out saw him walking down the street. No cry or exclamation at the injury had been made by Smythe. The next scene was enacted in a lounge in the same street, where he took a seat and then lav across the table groaning. He explained that he had caught the rifle in his clothing and it bad gone olf, the bullet entering his chest. The proprietor examined the wound, which was evidently made by a small bore rifle, and which was bleeding slightly. Marks of the rifle’s explosion were apparent on bis shirt. A doctor who had been summoned ordered Smytbe’s removal to hospital, where his condition is regarded as serious, although he is . still conscious. The police are of the opinion that the wound was accidental, but two previous escapades of an < extraordinary character point to the fact tnat the youth is mentally unbalanced. N., December 28.

The body of an elderly man was found lying on tire railway line near Khandallah early on Saturday morning and has been identified as that of James Sheerin, late of 19 Clifton street, Palmerston North. The deceased leaves a widow and a large grownun family. WELLINGTON, December 26.

As the result of a collision between a motor car and a tramcal* at the corner of Wakefield and Lower Cuba streets serious injuries were sustained by Gilbert Landymore, an occupant of the car, and less serious injuries were also sustained by Mr and Mrs Herbert Ellis and a small child. The car was being driven along Wakefield street, and apparently the driver failed to. notice the approach of the down car. The tramcar smashed right into the motor ear. which was badly knocked about. A small child, who was one of the occupants of the car, was thrown clean on to the road, but fortunately escaped without injury. Mr Landymore sustained a broken kneecap in addition to being cut about the face and hands. December 27. A man whose identity is not known approached two men talking on Lamibton wharf last night, and when within 15 yards

of them exclaimed “Here goes!” and jumped into the water. The men scrambled down the piles and searched in the water for the stranger, but could not locate him ; nor could the police, who subsequently searched with grappling irons. December 23. Inquiries as to the identity of the man who threw himself into the water point to liis name being Parry, an elderly watchman on the steamer Takapuna, which is now being dismantled. WANGANUI, December 26. William Forsyth, a farmer at Oreore, was killed yesterday near Raetihi. His car capsized over a bank. The other occupants escaped uninjured. A number of minor accidents is reported over the holiday, the most serious being that to Thomas Dwyer, Fordell, who was found on the railway line between Okoia and Fordell on Christmas Eve. He was taken to the hospital with a fractured skull. CHRISTOHURGH, December 22. “ The evidence leads me lo believe that these men were not keeping a proper lookout when approaching the crossing. They had a clear view, and should have seen the train coming. No blame is attachable to anyone.” Thus spoke the coroner (Mr Wyvern Wilson) to-day at the inquest on Duncan Stewart and Cyril Edward Reeves, who were fatally injured when a motor oycle, driven by Stewart, collided with tho north-bound express at Burnham Crossing on December 13. GORE. December 22. Robert Oswald Hamilton, a labourer, of Mataura, a single man, committed suicide yesterday by taking poison. Deceased had been suffering from disease, and was in a depressed state of mind. AN OLD MAN’S DEATH. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sitting as coroner, held an inquest at the Hospital on Tuesday on the body of Robert Adams Western, aged 81 years, who died on the 22nd as the result of injuries received through falling from a window at the nome conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor at Anderson’s Bay. After hearing evidence, the Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to heart failure following shock, resulting from injuries caused by a fall from a window at the home of the Little Sisters of the Poor. GIRL’S SCALP TORN. A distressing accident befell Miss Gwen Starr, of Towai, near Whangarei, at milking time on a recent evening. While her brother was absent, attending to stock, trie belt of the milking machine engine came off. Disregarding his warning, she endeavoured to put it on again, and her hair caught in the belting, the result being that her scalp was severely torn and her face cut. She was taken to the Kawakawa Hospital. The patient was under an anaesthetic on Sunday, severe shock to her system having been occasioned. She was reported to be making good progress, but will not be out of danger for some days.