CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 33

CASUALTIES.

AUCKLAND, May 5. At the inquest on George Harrison, who was found dead on tho doorstep of a board-ing-house, the evidence showed that he liad been choked by a piece of meat, and a verdict of death from asphyxiation was returned. A shocking accident occurred at Morrinsvilie railway station yards at about 3 p.rn. to-day, as a result of which a young married man named John G. Rountree, an assistant shunter, was instantaneously killed. The deceased was directing an engine in shunting operations, when his foot apparently became jammed in the points. There was no time for the engine, which was travelling in reverse, to pull up, and he was practically cut to pieces. He had been on the Morrinsville staff for about three months, and was formerly in the King Country. He leaves a wife and three children. May 6. Ernest Marshall Smith, aged 31, residing in a boarding-house, was found dead in his bedroom with a half-empty bottle of poison near by. May 7. At the inquest at Auckland on Ernest Marshall Smith, a sailor \vho was discharged from the navy during the past 12 months, and who was found dead im his bedroom in a boarding-house, the coroner returned a verdict of suicide by poison. Deceased was short of money, and worried because he could not pay his board. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 8. Benjamin llarrv Gilbanks, aged 25, a married man, with four children, died suddenly this morning. lie appeared to be in his usual health when he rose, but on going into the garden he fell, and a little later he died. He had been reciving medical attention. WAIPAWA, May 9. While returning home from the races last evening a car containing Patrick M‘Oarten (Taihape). John M'Carten, and Miss Lindsay ran into a bank noar Pukehou and capsized. Patrick M’Carten was dead when extricated from the wreckage. Miss Lindsay sustained a broken leg. PATEA, May 5. Evidence given at the inquest on the baby, Irene Mead, who was burned to death at Kakaramea, showed that every effort had been made to rescue the infant from the flames. After hearing evidence, the jury brought in the following verdict:—“That the deceased, Irene Mead, met her death accidentally through a fire which occurred in a house of Mr J. S. Watt at Kakaramea, and that there is no evidence to show how it originated.” The jury added rider expressing sympathy with the parents in their sad bereavement. CARTERTON, May 8. A man named J. Cardno, a traveller for the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills, was picked up at the roadside at Clareville by the Carterton police last night. Cardno was driving a nigh-powered car,, and it is thought that lie suffered a stroke. lie was found lying on the ground alongside the car, and taken to the police station for medical attention. This morning he was sent to Mastcrton for treatment. WELLINGTON, May 5. The body of Percy Robertson, aged 30, who had been missing since Sunday last, was discovered to-day on the rocks near Happy Valley in a battered condition. It is thought that the man fell from the cliff above BLENHEIM, May 6. Gilbert Hart, married, aged 40, was found hanging from the rafter of a stable in Old Renwick road, near Blenheim. GREYMOUTH, May 5. Herbert Douglas ’Southerly, aged 47, married, with two children, a farmer from Motueka, died suddenly at his mother’s residence at Taylorvillo Inst night. An inquest will be held. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. At the inquest yesterday on Maude Ellen Bourne Webb, aged 31, and married, the doctor was unable to give any opinion as to the rause of death, and the inquest was adjourned for a post-mortem. The husband and mother give evidence that the woman had always enjoyed good health, but she became suddenly ill after eating a few mouthfuls of stew. She went to lied and woke groaning at 5 a.m., dying within half on hour. Both witnesses had

eaten portion of the same stew, and had felt no ill-effects. - .

May 9. Colliding with a motor cur while cnasing a boy cyclist who had failed to stop when asked for an expiation, Constable Jannet received injuries which necessitated his removal to the hospital on Thursday evening. Ernest Johnston Merriman, aged 53, mar. ried. a watersider, was found drowned in Lyttelton Harbour this morning. OAMARU MOTOR TRAGEDY. An inquest touching the death of an old rrum named Henry Wilton, who died after the 4th inst., was held at Oamaru on Monday evening, was held at Oamaru on Tuesday afternoon, before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., coroner. A verdict was returned that the deceased, Henrv Wilton, died through fracture of the skull and compression of the brain caused by being accidentally knocked down by a motor car. No blame was attachable to the driver of the car. The coroner, commenting on the evidence, referred to the disability from which deceased suffered and its effect on his sight when walking. Deceased apparently did not look up when crossing, and was struck by a car driven bv William M'Pherson. TTiore was no suspicion that tho car was being driven at all fast. The lights of the car would not be showing over a wide area at the time, and it was quite apparent that the old man did not see the car. It was a sad fatality, but was entirely an accident. A WIDOW’S DEATH. Mr J. 11. Bartholomew, S.M., sitting as Coroner, conducted an inquiry at tho Morgue on Wednesday afternoon into the circumstances of the death of Annie Jane Marryatt, a widow, 53 years of ago, who died suddenly on Tuesday night. Sergeant Gilligan represented the police. I>r Evans stated that he had known the deceased for a considerable number of years. From the history of the case and an examination of the body he was of opinion that the cause of death was heart failure following cyanosis of the liver and kidneys. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.