CASUALTIES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 10

CASUALTIES.

SUICIDE BY HANGING

Oα Sunday afternoon, Mr Thompson, bachelor, of Rangiora, who was by occupation a carpenter and joiner, was found hanging by a cord from a beam in a workshop at his premises. At the inquest, held yesterday by Mr T. A. B. Bailey, Coroner, Mr W. J. Ford stated that deceased, who was about 72 years of age, lived by himself in Good street. Witness attended to him at times, and took deceased some dinner at 1 p.m. He was in a low condition, and depressed. Witness suggested to him tho advisableness of going to a Home. Witness returned again a little i before 4 p.m., and found deceased was not. in his bed, and made a search, which resulted in his finding him suspended to the beam in his sleeping clothes, with an overcoat- on. The body was cold. Hβ informed the police, y Constable Robertson, who cut the body down, gave formal evidence. Dr. Will, in his statement, said Thompson suffered from kidney and heart troubles, and he had advised him more than once to go into a Home, which he declined to do.

The Coronor returned a verdict of death by hanging, while deceased was in an unsound state of mind.

Joseph Biggins, West Lyn, Upper Riccarton, met with an accident on Sunday while trying to catch a young horeo. The horse kicked him in the face, and he was admitted to the hospital suffering from a fractured jaw. James Clark, residing at 23 Barbour street, Linwood, fell from a scaffolding at P. and D. Duncan's yesterday. He sustained a broken rib and a fractured wrist. ; At an early hour yesterday' Mrs Fraser, wife of Mr R. Fraser, aged 60 years, died suddenly. She had been ailing from an attack of bronchitis, and was being carefully attended to, but collapsed before medical attendance could be got. Dr. Will, who was called in, was able to give a certificate as to the cause of death, and an inquest was dispensed with.

I (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAMS.) INVERCARGILL; May 2-5. John Whelan, a youth 18 years of age, was drowned in Lake Wakatipu on Saturday afternoon. While bagging coal on the wharf he fell into the lake. HOKITIKA, May 25. Bernard Heslan, aged 71, a settler residing at Lower Kokatahi, was found drowned in a creek near his residence this morning. CARTERTON, May 25. James Andrews, an old age pensioner, was burnt to death at ilartinborough yesterday. He was living with John Lyons, another old age pensioner. The latter want out early yesterday morning. When he returned tho hut was in flames. Lyons tried to pull Andrews out, but was unable to on account of the flames.

ASHBURTON, May 25. Joseph Nicholson, aged 60 years, a farm labourer, fell off the late train from Christchurch to Asbburton at Chertsey on Saturday night, and euffered a fractured s^iine. INVERCARGILL, May 25. John Rees, master of the fishing vessel Violet, has been missing from the Bluff since Friday last. Hβ was seen that evening on the wharf going towards his vessel. He was under the influence of liquor, and it is supposed that on boarding the boat he fell into the harbour. (SPEdAI TO "THZ PMSS.") GLENTUNNEL. May 25. Joseph Dickie, a middle-aged man, residing at Whitecliffe, disappeared late last mght. His body was found this morning hanging in a woolshed on the Kiversleigh estate. Life was extinct. Hβ had been in ill-health, for some time.