CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3846, 29 November 1927, Page 37

CASUALTIES.

LEV-EL CROSSING TRAGEDY. PUKEKOHE, November 22. The Auckland-Thames express ran into a furniture-laden motor lorry at the Buckland level crossing at 10.57 this morning. William Austin Braithwaite, of Manurewa, was killed, and his son, Leslie James Braithwaite, the driver of the vehicle, was slightly injured. In addition, a man named Scott, who was shifting to Harrisville, where he has acquired a farm, was seriously injured, and was sent to hospital. The lorry was badly smashed.

DEATH FROM GAS POISONING. AUCKLAND, November 22. Mrs Janet Morrison, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Sundav in a critical condition as the result of gas poisoning, died to-night. Her husband, James Morrison, is reported to be improving.

ALIVE WITH BROKEN NECK. TE KUITI, November 22. Last night Charles Gates, aged 21, when riding pillion on a motor cycle near Piopio, was thrown to the ground when the machine ran over a dog. The other man escaped with minor injuries. The injured man was brought to the Te Kuiti Hospital, where an X-ray examination disclosed that he had suffered a broken and dislocated neck- He is still alive, but his condition is precarious, though the doctors believe that there is hope of his recovery.

OLD MAN FOUND HANGING. PALMERSTON N., November 22. Alfred Godfrey, an old-age pensioner, aged 70 years, was found hanging in his whare in Napier road at noon to-day. He had not been seen out since Saturday at midday.

METHYLATED SPIRITS EXPLODE. WELLINGTON, November 22. A tin of methylated spirits near which two men were working with a lamp exploded, with the result that George Jessen, aged 25, and Charles Stanton, aged 25, were both badly burned. They were employed at the Co-operative Dairy Producers’ Freezing Company's building. Jessen was severely injured about' the head, arms, body, and legs, and his condition is serious. It is understood that he was to be married to-night. Stanton received burns to his arms and hands, but the injuries are not serious.

WOMAN BATHER SCALDED. ROTORUA. November 23. Mrs W. Thompson, who on November 14, while bathing at night in the Kuirau Reserve, stepped into an overheated pool and was badly scalded, is in a critical condition.

YOUNG MAN FOUND DROWNED. GISBORNE, November 23. The police, by means of a drag recovered the body of Thomas Hanna, aged 25, who was drowned in the Waimata River last night. The body was found in six feet of water in a pool where deceased, who was subject to epileptic fits, was in the habit of swimming. The pool is stated to be dangerous even for a powerful swimmer. GAS POISONING. WELLINGTON, November 23. B. J. Dolan, barrister and solicitor, formerly of Napier, but for the last 12 months practising in Wellington, was found dead on Tuesday night at his residence, 109 Upland road. A gas tap was found left on in the room where the body was discovered. He was aged 53. He leaves a widow, but no children. DEATH CAUSED BY BURNS. WELLINGTON, November 23. The man named Jessen, who was severely burned when a tin of methylated spirits exploded yesterday, died in hospital during the night. The other man shows a slight improvement, but is still in a somewhat critical condition. CRUSHED BY FALLING TREE. BLENHEIM, November 23. A serious accident occurred in the Tinline Valley, Pelorus Sound district, when a bushman named Thomas Johansen Eggers, aged 51, married, with five children, was crushed by a large tree which he and another man were jacking off on a hillside. Eggers’s jack slipped, and the log shot down the hill, crushing him in its fall. Two hours were occupied in bringing the injured man to the mill. A doctor ordered his removal to the hospital at Blenheim. It is understood that the man is suffering from a fractured pelvis and internal injuries. His condition is critical. DEATH FROM NATURAL CAUSES. GISBORNE, November 24. At the adjourned inquest on Mrs Mary Jane Cameron, who expired suddenly in the garden of a friend’s house on the night of October 31, the coroner returned a verdict of death from natural causes, in accordance with the medical testimony. A FATAL FALL. GREYMOUTH, November 24. James Haldane, aged 47, a co-operative miner at Runanga, fell over a small bank while returning home from work last evening and was killed instantly. It appears that Haldane, with companions, was walking along a bush track in order to avoid a swollen creek when the unfortunate man lost his footing. Haldane was a widower, and leaves three children aged from 6 to 14 years. The deceased was well respected throughout the district.

A SOLICITOR’S DEATH. WELLINGTON, November 25. At the inquest, on B. J. Dolan, barrister and solicitor, a verdict was returned that death was due to the effects of coal gas poisoning, self-administered while in a state of temporary mental depression.

DEATH FROM POISONING. HAMILTON, November 25. At an inquest held at Ngaruawahia into the death of Ida Dillon Kemp, aged 17, da YS. llter S. E. Kemp, farmer, a rb> *’ be coroner (Mr Wyvern Wilson, k- ; M.) returned a verdict that deceased died as the result of taking poison, but tse evidence disclosed no reason for doing so. The deceased died suddenly on luesday night.

DEATH FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS. NEW PLYMOUTH. November 25. The body of Thomas Quayle was found under a tree about half a mile from his home at Weston last night, with an extensive gunshot wound in his left breast, and the gun lying beside him. Deceased, who was a wharf labourer, aged 38, married, with no children, had been out shooting. Apparently he was returning home, carrying a sack of wood and when passing under a tree on the track the gun caught in a branch and exploded, causing instant death.

FALL DOWN A LIFT WELL. WELLINGTON, November 25. George Shepherd, a carpenter, aged 31, o. 22 Chamberlain street, Karori, died ni the public hospital this afternoon fiom a fractured skull, received as a result of being knocked down a lift well during building operations in the T. and tuulding at the corner of Grey street and Lambton quay, about 11.40 a.’m. It appears that the deceased was leaning over the lift well on the third flobr sawing a piece of timber when the lift descended suddenly and knocked him down the well. Shepherd, who was a married man, was immediately rushed off to the hospital in the free” ambulance, but succumbed at 3.30 p.m. without regaining consciousness. An inquest will be held.

WATERSIDER WORKER INJURED. WELLINGTON, November 25. While loading th e s.s. Westivan to-dav two waterside workers—C. B. Lumb, 6f 164 Jarrett street, and Thomas Henry yerbam, of 28 Tatanga crescent—were injured. The former received lacerated wounds on both legs by being struck bv a timber sling, and the latter suffered a fractured leg and a fractured ankle bv being hit by a hatch bearer.

MINER’S DEATH. GREYMOUTH, November 25. At the inquest at Runanga touching the death of James Haldane, miner, a verdict was returned that death was due to Haldane accidentally falling from a truck while descending a hill 'from the Briansdale mine to the main road, no blame beinsr attachable to anyone. SEARCH FOR BOY’S BODY. GRET MOUTH, November 25. Dragging operations at the wharf have failed to locate the body of the boy, Charles Sweetman, who 'is believed to have fallen into the river yesterday while whitebait fishing. The missing boy’s whitebait net was found under the wharf. CYCLIST INJURED. A young man named Colin Tracey, aged 17 years, residing in Rockside road,' Woodhaugh, was admitted to the Hospital at 8 a.m. yesterday, suffering from slight injuries to the face received through colliding with a milk cart in King street while on his bicycle. LABOURER FOUND DEAD. Advice has been received by the police that the body of a man. William James Smith, a labourer, aged 58, was found at Luggate on Thursday night. It was evident that the man had been dead for about five days, and the circumstances suggested that death had been caused through taking strychnine. ACCIDENT AT RACECOURSE. Mr G. Mason, the caretaker of the Forbury Park course, met with an accident on Friday, which was attended with somewhat serious results. While carrying a table to the office, he was caught bv a strong gust of wind, and thrown to 'the ground, the table falling on him. In addition to having one shoulder injured, ne received a severe blow on the head, leaving him unconscious for a considerable time. Dr Harty attended the sufferer, whose injuries necessitated several stitches being put in his head. INJURED IN COLLISION. CHRISTCHURCH, November 26. Edward Stackhouse, aged 21, when riding a inotor cycle in the city yesterday, collided with a motor, and received serio 's head injuries. The impact smashed the bumper bar of the car. ELDERLY MOTOR CYCLIST KILLED. AUCKLAND, November 27. A fatal accident occurred at Otahuhu at mid-day when an elderly man, who was riding a motor cycle, collided with another motor cyclist. He fractured his skull and died on admission to hospital. The identity of the deceased has not yet been established. FALL FROM MOTOR CYCLE. Suffering from minor scalp wounds, the result of a fall from his motor cycle, John Ham, a single man, aged 26, residing at 21 Alva street, was admitted to the Hospital yesterday - 'afternoon. A SLEDGE ACCIDENT. Morris Friend, aged four years, residing with his parents at Upper Junction, was admitted to the Hospital yesterday afternoon suffering from injuries to his face. Ho was seated on a sledge, from which ho was thrown when the. horses moved, and the seldge passed over him.

FALL OVER CLIFF. Tomahawk was the scene of a distressing fatality on Sunday morning.

At about 9 o’clock a boy named James I atrick, 15 years of age, whose parents reside in the district, left home to take, his dog for a walk. When the animal returned home alone later i the morning the boy’s parents became alarmed, and instituted a search. About 1 o’clock the boy was found lying on t’ e at the foot of a cliff, with a leg and an arm broken, his head badly injured, and his body severely bruised and cut. He was taken to his home, but he died before the arrival of Dr Linden, who had been sum--moncd by telephone. * It is thought that the boy fell a distance; of over 100 ft. An inquest will be held this morning. ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH. An inquest concerning the death of Simp. ; son Dunn, who was knocked down by?’ a tramcar in Customhouse square on Tues-( day and died in hospital on the following, day, was held at the Hospital on Thursday, Mr J, R. Bartholomew. S.M., sitting as. coroner. Sergeant Gilligan represented the ; police. A verdict of death from laceration of; the brain caused by deceased accidentally; colliding with a tramcar was returned. Thai coroner adding that no blame was attachable to the motorman.