CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 33

CASUALTIES.

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR KILLED. THAMES, August 5. Mr W. R. J. Johnston, traffic inspector of the Hauraki Plains County, was found unconscious on the Main" road near Ngatea early on Sunday morning. His motor cycle was close by, while a dead cow was about 20 feet away. Mr John ston died in the hospital last night. He had been to Thames on Saturday night, and it is believed when cycling home to Ngatea he collided with the cow, killing it. He suffered a fracture of the base of the skull and a lacerated brain. MAN FOUND HANGING. HASTINGS, August 5. James Wilson, aged 61, retired, was found hanging from the rafters of a shed in a paddock at the rear of his residence in York street, Hastings, at 12.45 this afternoon. Mrs Wilson • missed her husband on returning from a shopping visit to town, and a neighbour found him as stated. The deceased was cut down, but life was extinct. FATALITY ON RAILWAY WORKS. WAIROA, August 6. Public Works employee, Adam M'Kay, a married man, aged 55, was killed this morning at Begley’s Hill, East Coast railway works, 30 miles south of Wairoa. His head was crushed by a ballast truck. FARMER’S TRAGIC FATE. OHAKUNE, August 6. George Francis Edwards, farmer, of Parapara road, about four miles from Raetihi, met his death through the burning of a house in which he and his son were residing at about 2.30 this morning. A resident on the road, returning from Raetihi, noticed flames bursting from the residence. He rushed over and managed to awaken Wilfred Edwards, jun., who escaped through the window of the room occupied b.v Edwards, sen. However, the mass of flames was so great as to render help impossible. Edwards, jun., had a narrow escape. Had he not been awakened, in a few more minutes he would have shared a similar fate. Ed wards had spent the evening with neighbours, returning at midnight. The origin of the fire is unknown. GIRL DIES FROM BURNS. WANGANUI. August 7. An eight-year-old girl, Mary Cribb, died in hospital to-day as the result of burns she received when her clothes caught fire while she was standing by an open fireplace. FALL FROM MOTOR CYCLE. CARTERTON. August 8. A young man, W. R. Nankerville, aged 28, of Petone, employed on Mr D. Riddiford’s station, Lagoon Hills, Martinborough, met with a motor cycle accident on Thursday afternoon. He received a message from his wife in Petone that their small daughter was very ill. He mounted his cycle to go to her. On reaching Kaiawaiwai the back tyre burst, and the cycle left the road and dashed into a fence. Nankerville struck hi? head, inflicting a deep gash, and broke his arm. A passing motor lorry picked him up and conveyed him to Kelvin Hospital, Featherston, where he was attended by Dr G. 8. Sharp. The patient regained consciousness late yesterday afternoon, and is making satisfactory progress. MOTOR CYCLIST INJURED. WELLINGTON, August 9. As the result of hie motor cycle colliding with a motor car at the corner ot Tinakori road and Hill street on Saturday, John Baker, a farm hand, aged 23, received a compound fracture of the right leg, and was taken to hospital. The driver of the motor car was Dr Leslie Myens.

FOUND WITH THROAT CUT. WELLINGTON, August 9. With his throat cut, William Beveridge, aged about 50, was found in an unconscious condition at his home, 11 M'Kinley crescent, Brooklyn, this morning. He died within a quarter of an hour after admission to the hospital. The deceased, who was a builder, and a married man with two children,- had been out of work.

A FARMER’S DEATH. An inquest on the body of Thomas Glass, a farmer, who died at Ratanui, was held at Owaka on Tuesday, Mr A. C. Saunders, J.P., sitting as coroner. Evidence of identification was given by the deceased’s wife, who stated that he had been depressed in spirits for | some time, and had on several occasions threatened to take his own life. On the morning of the day of his death he worked about the house, but in the afternoon he stayed inside, and about 3 o’clock commenced to complain of pains in his stomach and heart. He refused to allow a doctor to be called on the score of expense, but the pains became worse, and about 5 o’clock witness sent for Dr Johnson, who arrived shortly after death had taken place. Dr Johnson gave evidence of having examined the body, and stated that from the symptoms and the fact that a bottle labelled “ strychnine ” was found in the room where the deceased was lying death was in his opinion due to strychnine poisoning. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. FOOTBALLER INJURED. Frank Fitzgerald, a member of the Wairarapa football team, was admitted to the Hospital at 5.15 p.m. on Saturday, suffering from head injuries received during the match Otago v. Wairarapa. His condition is reported to be improving. MOTOR CYCLE SKIDS. Wiliam Pettit, 17 years of age, residing at Queensberry street. North-East Valley, was admitted to the Hospital at 1.30 p.m. on Sunday suffering from head injuries received when the motor cycle he was riding along the Main North road skidded and threw him to the ground. KNOCKED DOWN BY CAR. An eight-year-old girl named Adeline Swift, who resides with her parents at 141 Moray place, was admitted to the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday morning, suffering from injuries to the body. The injuries were received when she was knocked down by a motor car in Filleul street. LEG FRACTURED. Mrs Agnes Anderson, a widow, 76 years of age, residing at 15 Victoria road, fell on a footpath in South Dunedin on Saturday and fractured her leg. She was admitted to the Hospital for treatment.