ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13658, 29 July 1908, Page 6

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 28. -, Three horses harnessed to a van bolted in Hobson street to-day, and careered on the sidewalk where the' driver to escape being decapitated by a verandah, jumped off. For thirty yards the animals brought down all the shop verandahs, and ioi a similar distance all the poles were smashed. A lady walking with a perambulator just managed to turn the corner when the verandah under which she was passing came down. A labouring man named Jackson, aged 50, was found dead on the floor of the bathroom of the Working Men's Club on Sunday. A doctor, who was summoned stated that the man had been dead for upwards of an hour. A medical examination showed that death was due to syncope, probably caused by taking a not. bath immediately after a hearty meal. LEVIN, July 28. A fatal accident was caused at Bartholomew's mill by a knife flying of a planing machine and striking John Stanley Widdows on the side of bis head and breaking his jaw and neck. Deatu was, instantaneous.

WELLINGTON, July 28. A verdict of accidental death, was returned by the jury which, inquired into the death of Alexander Webster, who was run over by a train lasti Friday evening. , OHRISTCHimCH, July 28. The passengers on the Westl Coast coach from>Otira on Monday met with a thrilling experience. The swingle-tree of one of the leading horses broke and later the driver was thrown from the box. He fell between the two polers' and was unable to regain his seat. The horses finding themselves practically free; commenced to gallop, but had only gone a few yards when one of the leaders fell, stopping the coach and bringing the other horses to a standstill. There were five passengers, but fortunately no one was hurt. If the coach had proceeded about another twenty yards it is stated that the result would probably have been serious. DUNEDIN, July 28. John Chalmers, a single man, fifty years of age, and a well-known resident of Lawrence cbmmitted suicide by hanging himself at an early hour this morning. The act was very determined. He suffered from an internal complaint, but had shown no signs of mental depression. An inquest was held to-day on the body of Mary Ann Hollis, aged 73 years, who was found dead in her house on Saturday. The medical evidence was to the effect that death was due to cold and starvation, and a verdict was returned accordingly. One witness statc-d that deceased had been ailing, but refused to see a doctor. At the inquest on the body of Mrs> Johnston, aged 23 years, who was found dead last' evening, a verdict that death was due to acute phthisis, accelerated by haemorrhage, was returned.

GORE, July 28. Peter Couperthwaite was knocked down by a passing trap on the Waikaka Valley road last night and severely injured in the back. The occupants of the trap ■did not stop and the man lay two hours insensible on the road. On recovering consciousness he struggled to a manse near by, where; the Rev. Evans obtained a doctor from Gore.