ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5665, 9 September 1896, Page 4

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

'*'■ [Per Press Association. | . , MASTERTON, Sspt. 8. At '.the inquest on the body of G. K. . Bond; architect/who died last night from a dose of carbolic acid, self-administered, a verdict of suicide while in a state of temporary insanity was returned. No cause can be assigned. Deceased was in the best of health and spirits yesterday. He leaves a wife. Bond, who was highly respected, came here from Victoria. . DUNEDIN, Sept. 8. Ewan Cameron, sixteen yetirs, was accidentally shot dead at Palnierston. He wao lifting a loaded gun from a dray when the charge exploded and lodged in his heart. „ ■ DANNEVIRKE. Sept. 8. A single man named Bridle, who came here from Canterbury, was killed to-day 1 while bush; felling on his section, in the Waikopiro block. DEATH IN THE POLICE LOCK-UP. An inquest was held on the body of F. M'Kinney at the. Police Depot, at 4.30 p.m. yesterday, before Mr R. Beetham, coroner, and a jury of whicn' Mr H. S.- Harris was chosen foreman. / John Molloy, licensee of the Quean's Hotel, stated that'- M'Kinney had been in his employ as barman for two and a half years, arid was a steady and trustworthy man, arid was sober when hV left ihe hotel, on Sunday afternoon. . " John, Kirby deposed that, on the same afternoon, the deceased had said thathe was in serious trouble, and left a -.packet ofletters with the witness. ! He would riot say what the trouble was, but said that he was a "cohderimed man and was,, going to die. His ..-nerves seemed shaken, but he uliA-nofcappear to be under the influence of drink. Witness endeavoured to get him to return to town, but unsuccessfully, and ■witness informed the police. Peter Ryan and Archibald M'Eendry gave corroborative evidence. Constable P. M'Gill deposed that he found the deceased on Monday afternoon in a paddock at Spreydoii, opposite the Asylum, arid took him to the lock-up at Christchurch. His mind was deranged. , Constable George Sinclair, watch-house keeper at the Christohurch police station, deposed that he saw the deceased three times between 4.15 p.m., when he was brought in, and 5 p.m., when witness went off duty. He appeared to be suffering from the effects of drink, but was not feeble, and there was nothing to show that he required a medical man. Constable Duncan M'Dqnald stated that he lmd been watch-house keeper from 5 to 9 p.m., and saw the deceased three times. He appeared to be suffering from the effects of drink, but did seem very bad. A few inirfutes past 8, by the Sergeant-Major's directions, witness telephoned for Dr Synies, who was out. The deceased was then about the same as at 5 o'clock. . Sergeant-Major Mason stated that -the deceased was rep6rted missing on Sunday, and search was made for him by the police. Witness had instructed Constable M'Donald to telephone for Dr Symes, because he wished to ascertain whether the deceased was insane or suffering from delirium tremens. Witness saw the deceased at 9 p.m. ; he seemed to be weak and suffering from drink and was semi-conscious, but witness did not think he was in a dangerous condition. Witness told Constable Scott, -who then took charge of the watchhouse, that Dr Symes had been telephoned for, and might come at any moment ; also told Scott to keep him under observation. About twenty minutes to eleven Constable Barrett told witness that Dr Moorhouse had seen deceased, who was in a dying" condition. Witness went at' once to see him, but ho was dead when witness reached the cells. ' Had felt certain that it was a case of delirium tremens. Had had cases which seemed even worse, a,nd had not terminated fatally. The instructions were not to send delirium tremens cases to the hospital. Had witness supposed that the case was serious he would have sent for another doctor when Dr Symes did not come. Constable M'Donald, recalled, deposed, in reply to a juror, that the deceased had had a pannikin of tea and a piece of bread and butter at 5 p.m. Constable W. H. Scott deposed that the deceased was in a very bad state at 9 p.m. Had never seen a drunken man in the same state, but nevertheless thought that the man was suffering from the effects of drink. Deceased was groaning, and moving his arms and legs about. At a quarter past ten witness saw him again ; he seemedto be worse, and was frothing at the mouth. Witness rang up Dr Syraes, the police surgeon, asking him to come at once. Mrs Symes replied that the doctor .was away, and was expected shortly, but that it was not certain when he would be in. Witness then rang up Dr Moorhouse, who came in a few minutes, at about twenty minutes, to eleven, and pronounced the man to ;be dying. Witness did not think that the case was going to end fatally when" he saw the deceased at nine o'clock.' Thought the case was about the worst he had;seen in a lock-up, and told the Sergeant-Major so. Witness said that he thought the doctor ought to be fetched at once, and the Sergeant-Major said that Dr Symes had been telephoned for, and would arrive shortly. The doctor had usually come soon after he had been telephoned' for. : . Dr Moorhonse deposed that the deceased died about five minutes after he (witness) arrived. He had made apostmortein examination of the body, and had found no marks of violence on. it. Nearly all the organs 'were healthy. There was evidence of- a disease of the heart, not dangerous, but which, would cause a good deal of pain; and of a good deal of old pleurisy. There was a good deal of congestion of the vessels in the lungs and brain. There was no sign of any irritant poison,' arid no smell of any poison easily detected by smell, and no smell of alcohol. Witness was of opinion that the deceased, had died from the results of exposure. Congestion of the bloodvessels of the brain was the immediate cause of death. Would say that it was probable that this condition of the brain produced what were practically , fits, and that these would probably come on quite suddenly. The man's condition might very easily have been mistaken for the effects of drink. Sergeant-Major Mason, re-called, deposed in answer to a member of the jury, that Dr Symes usually came very promptly when he was telephoned for. The time from 9 to 10.15 p.m. which elapsed, between the visits of Constable Scott was, under the circumstances, longer than usual, that was if the constable apprehended serious danger. The rule was that in cases of helpless drunkenness the visits of the watch-house keeper should be paid every hour, and oftener if necessary. In bad cases a man was left specially inside the lock-up to look after them, but witness did not consider this a bad enough case for that when he saw deceased at nine o'clock. The jury, after a retirement of a quarter of an hour, returned a verdict to the effect that. deceased .had. died from exposure, accelerated by congestion of v the brain, according to the medical evidence. ,The jury was further of opinion, as a rider, that, in the event of the police doctor not being obtainable when called upon, another medical man should, /be got at once. • Meeting of Liberals. — A^ meeting was held at the Temperance Hall last, night for the purpose of forming an association lor coiribined action during the forthcominggeneral election. There was a good attend dance. Mr H, B. Kirk, who was voted to the; chair, stated that the promoters of themeeting wished to get Liberals to sink minor differences and combine to preserve Liberal principles, and to ensure a continuance of Liberal government. A number of replies, which on the whole Avere very satisfactory, were received from various bodies to which circulars had been .sent. It was resolved to form an association, to be called the United Canterbury Liberal Electors' Association, to secure the return of members at the ensuing election who will support the present' Government. A committee was appointed to organise and report to a meeting to be held : at an early date. ■■'.'■ ■ . : -Ci^.';: .■■:.' ■■ -.' $ «