ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13838, 25 February 1909, Page 6

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon by Mr C. A. Wray, Coroner, touching the death of Alice. Collins, an elderly widow who was found dead in bed at" her home-in Theodocia street on Monday morning. Sergeant Bowman conducted the inquiry. -

Anthony Westoby, an inmate of the Old Men's Home, said he had known the deceased for over 20 years. She was a widow, her husband' having died 15 or 16 years ago, and she earned her living by washing, etc. Believed she had some property at Pleasant Point. 'Witness last saw her alive on Sunday at noon. He was with her for about two hours that day. She was in fair health then, but had been ailing for some time past". Witness went to :her house at 10.30 on Monday morning when he found the back door half open. He knocked and spoke, and getting no' reply went in and found her "dead in ' bed, and he informed neighbours and the police. Dr Burns, who had made a post mortem examination of the body, said he found that death was due to acute peritonitis. There were signs that she had been addicted to drink. ' James Holland, brother of the deceased, said that she was the widow of "William Collins, who died at Pleasant Point 15 years ago. Last saw his sister in High Street on Saturday. Witness was not aware that she suffered from any ailment. This was all the evidence, and the Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, that death was due to acute peritonitis.

A. man named W. Boyd, employed at the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association's wool stores, was rather badly hurt yesterday morning. He was receiving wool in a truck from a hoist, when one of the bales swung against him and knocked him out o| the truck. He struck the buffer of the truck as he fell, and sustained a uastv cut in the back of his neck, and a broken collar-bone. He was taken to the hospital for surgical attention.