CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3842, 1 November 1927, Page 37

CASUALTIES.

MOTOR CYCLIST’S DEATH. PALMERSTON N._ October 25. A coronial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Gordon Keith Cossar, who died in Palmerston North Hospital from injuries suffered in a motor cycle accident on Kawakawa road, Feildmg, was held this morning. The evidence was that the deceased apparently coi lided with a tree on the roadside, which, it was suggested, he struck when probably avoiding another vehicle on the road. The verdict was that the deceased died from injuries caused through colliding with a. tree while riding a motor cycle. The Coroner, commenting on the case, said it was remarkable that no discovery was made of the accident until a considerable time after it happened. DEATH FOLLOWS MOTOR COLLISION. NELSON, October 25. Brian Jones, son of Mr B. B. Jones, w-ho suffered serious internal injuries in a collision between a motor cycle he was riding and a motor car, died in the hospital this morning. LEG BROKEN IN COLLISION. CHRISTCHURCH, October 25. H. Cook, motor cyclist, broke his leg in a motor collision at Ashley Bank yesterday through his machine colliding with a car.

CAR AND LORRY COLLIDE. EKETAFIUNA, October 26. A two-seater car, driven by Trevor David Murdoch, stock agent, of Feilding, collided with a milk lorry driven by IL Cooper, at a bend approaching a small bridge at Newman this morning. A passenger in the car, J. Carter, a farmer, of Palmerston North, suffered a. broken collarbone and other injuries.

FALL FROM SCAFFOLD. WELLINGTON, October 26 Jeremiah Kelliher, aged 38, employed at the Wellington Company's gasworks' at Miramar, fell from a scaffold surrounding a chimney which was being demolis'hed and was instantaneously killed. It is thought that he overbalanced, there being no wind at the time. SKULL FRACTURED. - WELLINGTON, October 26. Joseph Harvey, a waterside worker, was admitted to the hospital with a fractured skull at 5 p.m. to-day, and died at 5.55 p.m. The deceased was a man of between 45 and 50 years of age, and was a widower. He leaves a daughter, who is believed to reside in Christchurch. None of the other occupants of the boarding house in which he resided witnessed the accident, which occurred between 4 and 4.30 p.m. ‘Harvey was found stretched put at the foot of the stairs, his head having come in violent contact with the concrete floor. The body lay in such a position as to indicate that the deceased had overbalanced when walking up the stairs. ' FATAL FALL FROM GIRDER. AUCKLAND, October 27. The death occurred at the Auckland Hospital of Richard Henry Merrick, aged 38, who was admitted on Tuesday afternoon suffering from severe injuries as the Result of falling 40ft from a girder, while working on a new’ building in Auckland railway station yard. The deceased was a carpenter. DEATH FROM KNIFE WOUND. AUCKLAND, October 27. The death occurred in the hospital last evening of John Alexander, aged 78, who was admitted in the afternoon with a knife woqnd in his arm. KICK FROM A HORSE. CHRISTCHURCH. October 27. An elderly married man, named John George Seaton, aged 77, the owner of stables in Cashel street west, was found at 1.40 p.m. to-day lying on his back with a, deep wound in his skull and his cap cut in two as the result of a kick from a horse. He was removed to hospital, where he was found to be, suffering from a fractured skull and .shock. He was still unconscious late this evening, and his condition was very serious. FATHER AND DAUGHTER DROWNED. WANGANUI, October 27. To-day the coroner held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Paul Fromont and his daughter, Miss Stella Fromont, the victims of a recent motor accident.

Ellen Murphy said that on October 12 she accompanied deceased to church in the evening. They left about 7.45 for a motor ride near the bridge over the Matarawa Stream. They saw a car in the distance. Mr Fromont dimmed his lights. She thought the lights went completeiv out, and all was dark. The next instant the ear crashed into the,, side of the bridge and was precipitated into the water. Witness found herself partly thrown out of the ear. When she scrambled up the bank there was a car there, and she told the occupants what had happened, and they went for assistance. She considered that possiblv Mr Fromont misjudged the distance of the oncoming car and dimmed before it was necessary.

Francis * Charles Gomez, motor driver, said that about 8 o’clock on the evening of the Occident he. was teaching a lad” to drive a motor- car on No. 3 line. When they reached the bridge they noticed a plank sticking out across the bridge. On pulling up another passenger got out to remove the obstruction. Witness noticed Miss Murphy coming out of the water. When they learned of the accident they set about to obtain assistance. It was about half an hour from the time witness arrived at the bridge before the bodies were removed Charles M’Kinnon, farmer, residing about 30 chains from the bridge, stated that everything possible was done. Witness knew the bridget very well. It was narrower* than the road. If a man was motoring on the correct side of the road at night and the lights went out lhe car would hit the side of the bridge.

Sergeant Sivyer said that the doctor who examined the bodies was of opinion tha-t death had been due to drowning. There were no marks on the body of Miss I’romort, while on Mr Fromont there was a srnail skiri abrasion on tho right wrist. The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased were drowned in the Matarawa. Creek on No. 3 line through the ' accidental overturning of the cur at the bridge. _

A BABY’S DEATH. . WELLINGTON, October 27. . I ” t } u , est regarding the death of a six-weeks-old baby, suffocated by its pillow at the receiving home at Miramar on Monday night, was held before Mr W. G. 'Riddell, S.M., to-day. The evidence showed that the infant had been admitted nine days previously, and had been in good health’ needing no attention at night. Although it was not customary to have night nurses on duty, each child was seen at 10 o’clock, and nurses slept -in an adjoining room to be available quickly if there was any sign of anything amiss. In the present instance the baby apparently moved its head in its sleep, and was suffocated. Since the occurrence a night nurse had been placed on duty;* but had there been a night nurse at the time, it was stated, and had she visited the ward every half-hour, it would still have been possible for such an unfortunate affair to have taken place. Returning a verdict of accidental death, the Coroner said ho thought it was a proper thing that a night nurse should be provided where a number of infants were sleeping together. It was apparent, however, that the nurses of the institution were thoroughly trustworthy, and no blame could be attached to them.

BOY SEVERELY INJURED. TAUMARANUI, October 28. Kenneth Kelland, aged four and a-ball years, when riding on a, lorry at Lairdvale, fell off and struck a pumice bank. He was afterwards admitted to hospital and an examination revealed that the little fellow had received a broken rib and suffered internal injuries. DEATH FROM ASPHYXIATION. GISBORNE, October 28. This evening a married man named John Andrew Smale, aged 30 years, was found dead* lying beside the gas stove in the kitchen at his* home. A gas pipe in the range had been taken off and the deceased apparently had stood over and inhaled lhe escaping gas. Prior to his death Smale appeared to be in good health, and in lhe best of spirits. He leaves a widow ana one child.

FATAL FALL FROM CHIMNEY. WELLINGTON, October 23. An inquest was held regarding the death of Joseph Kelleher, aged 38, who had a wife and two children, and who was killed during dismantling operations on a chimney at the gasworks. Miramar, on Wednesday. Part of the top of the chimney had been removed with the aid of a screw jack, and the deceased and another man were endeavouring to cut away the remaining portion. They were kneeling on tne scaffold inside the chimney when a piece of concrete weighing about half a ton commenced to fall towards the iron bars, failing to break as expected. The block crashed over the side and back on to the chimney, causing it to sway violently. Just as t"he swing took place Kelleher rose to his feet with the evident intention of jumping to the lower platform for safety, but he was too late, and the impact caused him to lose his balance. He was thrown over the side, and fell to the ground, being killed instantly. A verdict was returned that deceased met his death from injuries received through accidentally falling from a chimney. SHUNTING ACCIDENT. GRETTMOUTH, October 28. As J. R. Johnson, a railway locomotive fireman, alighted from the cab of an engine while engaged in shunting operations, he failed to notice the approach of the I. p.m. train from Rewanui, and he was struck by the oncoming engine and thrown with considerable force across the metals. He was admitted to the hospital, where it was found tliat he was suffering from injuries to his head and one of his shoulder blades. His condition at present is not. considered to be serious. TRAGEDY AT HA WE A FLAT. The Hawea Flat racecourse was the scene of a tragic accident during the running of the first race bn Saturday. J. J. Wilkins, the rider of King Mac, was thrown ab the third furlong post, and • hen ho was picked up he was found to be dead. His injuries included a severe fracture of the skull.