VICTORIAN ITEMS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 245, 14 May 1868, Page 2

VICTORIAN ITEMS.

(FROM THEMELBOURNEIiEABEE MAT 2.) One of the most frightful accidents it is perhaps possible to record occurred in a part of the upper workings of the Sir "William Don Company's claim on Wednesday at noon. The particulars are of a most distressing character, as reported by the Courier. A youth named Alfred Stone, about seventeen years of age, was employed in the buddie room, and a part of his duty was to

Hceep the machinery well oiled. In discharging this duty he came to the cogwheels which drive the huddle, and having oiled these he attempted to cross over to the other side of the machinery to finish his work. He placed one of his feet upon the crown wheel, which moves but slowly, intending it is presumed to spring over the machinery, but delayed too long, and accordingly his foot was drawn into the pinion. The revolution of the wheels dragged -firstly his leg amongst the cogs, and finally the lower part of his body, destroying life in a few seconds. Three times the wheels went round before the machinery could be stopped. When this was done, the men who hastened to the spot found great difficulty in extricating the body, for, with the exception of a few threads of flesh, it was j cut through just 'below the ribs. An idea of the dreadful nature of' the accident will be gathered from the fact that the lower part of the body had to be turned round two or three times before its original shape could be restored. The bones were smashed into splinters, and a watch, which the deceased had in his pocket, was afterwards found to have shared the same fate. "When the deceased first came in con-1 tact with the cogwheels he was heard to •cry out, and immediately the break was iput on the machinery, but its motion •could not be -stopped before the mischief was done. An inquest was held on the body later in the day, and a verdict of •accidental death returned. This is the first fatal accident that has occurred in the Sir William Don claim, and the fault is clearly the deceased's own. A seeiotjs chakge against a military •officer was preferred on the 23rd ult. •at the Warnambool Police Court. William W. B. O'Brien was charged with fraudulently, wilfully, and knowingly, and by means of false pretences, having •obtained from Mr W. H. Palmer, manager of the Bank of Australasia, Warrnambool, the sum of £ls, by a cheque drawn on the Oriental Bank, Melbourne. The clerk read the information laid by Mr Palmer, and the warrant for the prisoner's arrest. From the evidence adduced it appeared that the prisoner had called upon Mr Palmer on the 27th March, stating that he was a friend of •Mr William Learmonth, who had ;given him (O'Brien) permission to use 'his name to obtain an advance from the •bank. The cheque had been returned Valueless. A mounted constable, from Richmond, who brought the prisoner •down by the Edina, produced the warrant. In order to secure the attendance •of Mr Learmonth, and the ledgerkeeper at the Oriental Bank from Melbourne, sergeant Archibald prayed for a remand ointil Tuesday, the 28th ult., which was ;granted. We learn by telegram, that •Cornet O'Brien, late of the sth Lancers, •was again brought up at the Warrnambool Police Court on Tuesday, and committed for trial at the next Warrnambool sessions, which commence on the Bth of July next, for obtaining money wider false pretences. Messrs Learmonth and Hepburn gave evidence •against him on Tuesday. The bench ivere quite prepared to accept bail for the accused, himself in £2OO, and two sureties in £IOO each ; but it was not •forthcoming and the late cornet was ;again locked up. At the KHmore County Court, on Thursday last, during the hearing of the case Geraghty v. Gardiner, two •circumstances came under the cognisance ©f the court and all present, illustrating in the one instance extreme ignorance on the part of the individual chiefly concerned, and in the other the negligence on the part of the parents. A fine strapping young fellow, apparently about twenty-four years old, and following the avocation of a farmer was called upon to give evidence, when Mr P. Stephen inquired of him the nature of an oath, to which he quickly replied, to the amusement of all present, «To swear a lie." " There's a specimen," observed Mr Stephen. The lawyer for the plaintiff promptly ■ordered him down, informing the ignoramus that his services were not required. The other was that of an intel-ligent-looking little girl of nine years, daughter of defendant, who was put in the witness-box. In answer to questions, she said she knew nothing of the existence of a God, the Bible, or a future. His Honor Judge Skinner severely reprimanded the conduct of the parents, remarking that "such brute creatures should be banished from society."