Accidents, Inquests, &c.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5804, 18 December 1886, Page 4

Accidents, Inquests, &c.

An inquest was held at noon yesterday in the Eiccarton Hotel, before K. Beetham, Et-q., and a jury, who chose Mr James Ostler as their foreman, touching the death of T. or F. Allan.

After various witnesses had been examined, the jury retired, and, after a brief absence, recommended that there should be a post-mortem

The inquest was adjourned till 5 p.m. At 5 p.m. the inquest was resumed.

Constable Lewis was recalled, and repeated in effect what he had said in the morning

Dr Moorhouse : Had made a post mortem examination of deceased, who was apparently over 50. The body was well nourished, and bore co marks of violence. In the head, an extreme amount of fluid was pressing on the brain, which showed signs of old inflammation. The liver was enlarged, probably from the effects of drink. All the other organs were healthy. The stomach was distended with fluid, apparently by beer. The proximate cause of death was eerous apoplexy. To a furor : The probabilities were that hhe mail's death had been accelerated by drink.

The jjnry found a verdict iv accordance with the medical evidence.

The Coroner recalled Dale, whom he severely reprimanded for the manner in which he had given his evidence.

The guard of the Ferry road tram leaving Cathedral square at 5.15 p.m. yesterday found, on the platform of the car, a little boy, who said he wanted to have a trip to the Heathcote bridge. The little fellow, who appeared to be about 5 or 6 years old, said he had no money. The guard put Liin inside, intending to bring him to the Company's office, as he could not say where he lived. When the tram got back to town, and the lad was getting off opposite Fisher's corner, he fell, and was apparently stunned. He was immediately taken to the Hospital, where he was found to be uninjured, and wa3 soon all right.

An elderly man named Tom Thompson , belonging to Kangiora, fell over the wharf in Ljttelton yesterday afternoon at about 3 o'clock. He was rescued by a fisherman named Dempsey and another man, who manned a boat and picked him out of the ■water. He was taken on board the steamer Wakatipu, and received a warm bath, and was otherwise attended to by Dr Harrison. He was afterwards taken to the casual ward, under the direction of the police. It is stated that he was under the influence of drink at the time of the mishap.

A man named Frederick Funston was brought to the Lyttleton casual ward about a week ago from Port Levy. An operation was performed on Mm in the ward, but he sank, and died yesterday evening. An inquest will be held at 11 a.m. to-day. On Thursday a disagreeable accident, fortunately unattended with serious results, occurred in with the Temuka Presbyterian Sunday School picnic One of the expresses, loaded with children, was just returning from Geraldine, when the hind axle, becoming overheated, broke short off, and the children were thrown pell mell iato. the ro;»d. They were all more or less shaken and bruised, but none dangerously h,urs, yhe passengers in the remaining tehidles managed to accommodate the capsized children among them, and they were safely brought to Temuka. The express was one belonging to Mr "W. Ackroyd, and was lent ter the occasion.

[Pbb Press Ab^^^-,

TVELtIttfGTOSi »Sc. 17. Oil Monday, at Aohattj*; Settlement between Cape Turnaj^ai^JKrii Castle Point, a Maori girl, ftboq* iO years of age, daughter of fiorl Taki, was burnt to death. The 'ch't?3. "was lifting potatoes ofE the fire, ytuh her clothes caught, and before they 'could be extinguished, Bhe -was so seridady burnt as to cause death. fiemy Walker, fireman, belonging to tho steamer Wareatea, while going aboaTd, 'fell off the gangway into the river, and was drowned. His body has not yet been ! recovered.