ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13706, 22 September 1908, Page 3

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

THE AEROPLANE MISHAP. Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, Sept. 20. Orville Wright states that the propeller of his flying machine struck a wire belonging to the rudder. Both broke, leaving the aeroplane unmanageable. DEATH ON SHIP. SYDNEY, Sept. 21. Mr William Whyte. u passenger from England by the Orontes. who joined the Warrimoo en route for Home from New Zealand, died on board jui>t before the Warriuioo sailed. Per Press Association. [ NAPIER, Sept. 21. | At the iurjuest on the body of Alexander Andrews, aged 68, who was found dead at Puketapu on Saturday, the medical evii dence was that death was due to heart disease, and a verdict wan returned to that, effect. Deceased was> a native of Belfast, and tio far an is known had no ulations in New Zealand. DUNEDIN, Sept. 21. A man named David Reid, aged 70 years, a superannuated railway crossingkeeper was found dead on Ocean Beach this morning. It i* supposed that he committed suicide by jumping off a, cliff at Lawyer's Head. Deceased's wife died a few month.* ago. and he had been very despondent ever since. At the iniitiest on the body i.f David Reid, found at Ocean Beach yesterday, the jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide" while of unsound mind. POINT BURNING CASE. THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held at Pltasant Point yesterday morning, touching the death of Mis E. Mcdlicott. wife of J. F. Mcdlicott .vho mvt her death through burning on Saturday night. Mr C. A. Wray, district coionei, conducted the enquny, and the following comprised the juiy : —.\ittbr« T. E. Syle- (foreman). H. C. boseett, J. S. Chisholui, J. Stewart, A. Chisbolni, and W. J. Gibson. llk- brat wniitns called, was J. F. Med licott, husband ot deceased, who said that lie kit home on Saturday evening, about 10 mtnuteo to I. leaving bis wile alone in the house. She was washing the tea. tilings wlien he Ictt, and was iikii in gooa heaJth and tpirits. 'ltiere was a, coal tire in the kiichea range. Witnetfc returned Ironi the Point about. 10.10 p.m. and found his wile, tying on Uk- noor acrobs the passage leading Ironi the kitchen to the fronts rooms. On placing his hands on tier arm he lound it*cold. Gave tlie alann to bis niiin and e>em, hiui to the l'oiut lor the doctor and the countable. Witness noticed then that the clothes on deceased's back were (smouldering. He quenched the tire with his hand. His wife had evidently been burnt ; to death. The hie in the kitchen had burnt out. Deceased had been in the habit of pouring kerifeciie on the hrC when *?tie was replenishing it. If that war* not Mitticient she would strike u match and diop it where she had poured the kerosene. Witness had often warned her that this was dangerous. He thought that t>oniething of the kind »uu>t have happened on Saturday night. Hk> wife huu probably been warming milk lor three pet, lambs they had at the house. She usually did this between 7.30 and 8 o'clock every night. A box of matches was found near Hie lire place, and a bottle of kerosene, half empty, was on the lloor near the wood box, about 6 feet from the tile place. Deceased wao about 4a yeait» of age. She had not had an accidcut with tlie tire befoic. Dr C. A. Patensou, of Pleasant Point, said that on Saturday night he way called Ito tlie home of deceased between 10 and 10.50 p.m. He found the body of deceased lying in the doorway, on it.*' .side. Doth hands were up, and" stiff. The body was quit* cold, and had evidently been ucad a couple of homo then. On examination he found extensive burns on the abdomen and chest, extending up to the throat. I here were also burns on both arms. Death would probably be due to heart failure from shock caused by the burning. He thought it veiy pebble that death happened in the manij.i desciibe.l by the l.ibt willing. I| K . ntn> \ ~f (|,,. Ir.iiHiug was on the abiloimn. The deic.<s-d would probably 1., binding over the tile to put on tin- keiosene. Tliti-- wu- m> mark* of violence ou i In- body. Deceased initbt have lun from Mie lire' and (alien m the passage. This was all (Ik- evidence, and the jurv returned ;v verdict of accidental death through burning and shock. Dr. Patterson, of Pleasant Point, lia.l the m : fortune to break lii» right collar bone on Saturday night, .lnough falling from lii.f bicycle when cycling ftoni the l'oiut to attend Mrs Med'licott. who lost her life through binning.