CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 35

CASUALTIES.

A FATAL COLLISION. WELLINGTON, October 7. “ That the deceased was killed on the Hutt road at Petone on the night of September 19 in a collision between a motor cycle he was riding and a car driven by Clarence Douglas Hector Orr ” was the verdict returned by the coroner, Mr J. S. Barton, at an inquest on Marco William Humphrey at Petone. The de ceased’s sister-in-law, who was riding pillion at the time of the accident, said they were not travelling fast. She alleged that Orr’s car was on the wrong side of the road. B. A. Deacon, a railway porter, who was in Orr’s car at the time of the accident, gave evidence that he had had several drinks with Orr before the accident. Constable L. J. Moore considered that Orr was intoxicated when the smash occurred, but he had not charged him with being intoxicated while in charge of a car.

M.P.’S SON KILLED.

WELLINGTON, October 7.

Robert Semple, eldest son of Mr R. Semple, M.P., was injured in a motor capsize between Johnsonville and Tawa Flat last night. ' Stanley Holmes, who was also in the car, . was uninjured. Semple died later in the Wellington Hospital. The deceased was driving. He was a married man, with one child, and arrived from Gisborne on Saturday, taking up a job as driver of the Titahi bus service.

KILLED BY FALL FROM HORSE. OAMARU, October 7.

A middle-aged shepherd, Archibald Muir, single, was found dead on the property of L. Kelcher, Hakataramea Valley, yesterday afternoon, having apparently been thrown from the horse he was riding. At the inquest to-day a verdict that the deceased died from head injuries caused by a fall from a horse was returned.

A BLASTING MISHAP. ROTORUA,' October 8.

A blasting accident, in No. 1 camp of the Rotorua-Taupo road construction occurred yesterday afternoon. Horace R. James, a casual employee, was injured by falling rock, his skull being fractured. The victim was immediately removed to the King George V Hospital, where ne lies in a critical condition.

EXTENSIVE INJURIES.

NEW PLYMOUTH, October 8.

Fractures of the forearm and wrist and three fractures of one leg were suffered by a young man named Brian Rowe when the motor cycle he was riding collided head on with another motor cycle ridden by Kenneth Martin, of New Plymouth, at Fitzroy to-day. Martin escaped practically unscathed. The collision occurred just over a rise. Rowe was riding to attend his twenty-first birthday party at his home.

FEILDING RESIDENT’S DEATH. PALMERSTON N., October 8.

An inquest concerning the death of Norman Corbett Wheeler, a resident of Feilding, which occurred in the Palmerston North Hospital, was held this morning.

Dr Ward, medical superintendent of the hospital, stated that the deceased was admitted on September 24 suffering from shock, severe lacerated wounds of the throat, and a smaller wound of the left wrist. The deceased died on September 28, the cause being septic pneumonia.

The coronet returned a verdict that the deceased died from septic pneumonia following on a wound in the throat selfinflicted.

MOTOR CYCLIST’S DEATH. WELLINGTON, October 8. While an inquest on the victim of a motor cycle collision was proceeding the rider of the machine which caused the death was having afternoon tea. This was admitted by Lawson John August, aged 21, an insurance collector, before the coroner (Mr E. Page, S.M.), to-day. when an inquiry into the death of Edmund Francis Blake was resumed. It was stated at earlier proceedings that August’s mind was a blank and that he was unable to give evidence. To-day he said he could not remember starting out nor could he recall anything concerning the accident.

The coroner returned a formal verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, ■refraining from comment in view of the possibility of civil proceedings. CYCLE AND CAR COLLIDE. CHRISTCHURCH, October 8. Fatal injuries were received by Mamie Kitchener, aged 19, this morning when a motor cycle on which she was riding pillion collided with a motor car in Colombo street south. She was taken to the hospital, and after lying in a critical' condition all day died late this afternoon. Miss Kitchener was a passenger on a motor cycle driven by James Inkster. The driver of the car was Robert Bradford. Inkster escaped with a shaking and minor abrasions.

CRUSHED BY FALL OF ROCK. REEFTON, October 8.

Charles Skinner, aged 29, deputy manager of the Clele coal mine, was crushed by a fall of rock yesterday. He was brought to the hospital and died

late this afternoon. Skinner was only recently married.

MAN FOUND DEAD. INVERCARGILL, October 9. Frank L. Stevens, aged 49, was found dead at Riverton early this morning. An inquest will probably be held.

MAN FOUND DEAD. AUCKLAND, October 10. While driving along Murdoch road, Mount Albert, at 5 o’clock last evening, Dr T. H. Pettit noticed a man in the long grass in a peculiar attitude. Investigating, he found that the man had been dead for several hours, with a wound in his throat, and a razor nearby. The body was that of Edmund Joseph Riesterer, of Avondale, aged 56, a married man, with a grown-un family of six. He.held a river master’s certificate, but until recently was employed by the Harbour Board. He had been out of work tor a fortnight. At the inquest a verdict of suicide w’as returned. KILLED BY FALL OF ROCK. AUCKLAND, October 10. Horace Lewis James, a married man, aged 47, who was injured by a fall of rock on the Rotorua-Taupo road construction on Tuesday, succumbed in Rotorua Hospital yesterday. FATALLY INJURED BY FALL OF ROCK. AUCKLAND, October 12. As the result of injuries he received when he was struck by a fall of rock in a quarry at Takapuna, Sidney Herbert Smith, aged 49, died in the Auckland Hospital. He lived in Dominion road, Takapuna, and was married. A FATAL FALL. TE AROHA, October 11. Frank Brady, of Shaftesbury, manager of his late father’s estate, one of the largest farms in the district, was killed yesterday by falling from a tree on the farm. In falling he was transfixed by a bough. He leaves a widow and three children, the eldest being four years of age. CAR AND TRAIN COLLIDE. PALMERSTON N„ October 11. At the Kelvin Grove railway crossing at about 10 o’clock this morning, a car driven by S. J. Grinstead, was struck by a south bound goods train. The engine of the train caught the front of the car with some force, and swung the lighter vehicle round until it was facing the opposite direction from which it had been travelling. Portions of the car were badly damaged. Grinstead was not injured.

SUDDEN DEATH IN STREET. When returning to his home in Fitzroy street, Caversham, shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday, George Hobson, aged 48 years, collapsed after stepping off a tramcar and expired immediately. The deceased was discharged from the Dunedin Hospital on June 25 after undergoing an operation. He was single, and resided with his mother. The deceased was employed as a mechanic at the Hillside workshops. It is not yet known whether an inquest will be necessary. CHILD INJURED. Kathleen O'Connor, aged six years, residing with her parents at 23 Grange street, was admitted to the Hospital at 7.20 p.m. on Saturday suffering from a fractured femur. The injury was received when the child was knocked down by a motor car in Hanover street. FRACTURED LEG. While riding in a race at Wingatui on Saturday, John Thomas Andrews, a married man, aged 27 years, residing at Wingatui, suffered a fracture of the left leg when his horse fell with him. He was admitted to the Hospital for treatment. FOUND WITH THROAT CUT. A resident of St. Kilda was attracted to the lupins at 7.30 a.m. on Sunday by frequent moans, and on going to investigate the cause of the sounds found an elderly man lying on the ground w*ith a severe gash in his throat and smaller cuts on his wrists. The police were immediately notified and the man was removed to the Hospital, where he now lies in a serious condition. He has been identified as James Miller, a married man, aged 60 years, residing at the corner of Walker and Hayward streets. He had been missing from his home since Saturday evening, and his appearance and condition on Sunday indicated that he had spent the night where he was found.

KNOCKED DOWN BY TRAM-CAR. James Strang, a married man, aged 48 years, residing at Grosvenor street, Caversham, was knocked down by a tram car near the Queen’s Gardens on Saturday morning and was admitted to the Hospital suffering from concussion and fractured ribs. MAN’S SUDDEN DEATH. Three men set out on a walking trip to Wairongoa on Sunday, and took a short cut home across the hills. A stiff climb proved too great a strain for one of the party, who collapsed and died on Mr James Gow’s property. The unfortunate man was Thomas Ewart, of 55 Nelson street, South Dunedin, a single man, aged 41 years. Dr J. P. Shane was called, but could only pronounce life to be extinct.