ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12042, 16 April 1903, Page 3

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

P« Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 15. Mrs Margaret Stacey, -who drank carbolic acid in mistake for medicine on April 4th, died this morning. At the inquest on the body of the boy Walker, the jury found that the lad was killed accidentally on April Ist by a falling block and tackle. He was swinging from a ropa attached to a block when the block cune out of the hook and struck him on the head, fracturing his skull. A labourer named Benjamin Todd committed suicide this afternoon in a determined manner, cutting big throat from ear to ear, and almost severing his head. Todd, although suffering severely from rheumatism and very despondent, had not threatened to take" hh> life, and was left alone without fear. About 2 o'clock his married daughter heard a Etrange noise in an outbuilding. Opening the door she was horrified to find her father lying on the floor with his head almost severed. He was dead, and Dr Moir stated that it was the most determined case of suicide which I had ever come under his notice.

NEW PLYMOUTH, April 15.

A man named George Cowper was seriously injured in the Mokau Coal Mine on Saturday. He was working in a narrow drive "when a fall occurred, crushing him badly. His mates extricated him, and medical aid was sent for. Dr Bennett reached the spot on Monday afternoon, and found that Cowper had received severe injuries to his spine and foot. The injured man was removed to the hospital on the doctor's orders.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 15. Albert D. Austin, who has been missing since Saturday, was found shot through the head in Hagley Park, with a revolver beside him. Deceased, who was for many years in the public service, had been a, Tictim of insomnia for a long time. The evidence of children at the adjourned inquest on the body of Walter Robson was rather contradictory. It was stated yesterday that the couplings near which deceased had been sitting were taut, and that he was resting his leg on one of the chains, and a jerk of them had caused him to fall. It was affirmed to-day that the couplings were slack as usual, and that the buffers were normal. One boy said that there had been no jolt sufficient to cause the accident. The jury found that deceased bad been killed,bv an accident on the Lvttelton-Christchurch

train, and they considered that there was some negligence shown in allowing 12 or 13 mere children to remain on the platform. They also considered that some blame rested with one of the three guards, but were unable to determine which. The evidence showed also that at Opawa the stationmaster took the children's tickets, and it was considered that he should have seen them seated.