CASUALTIES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17124, 20 April 1921, Page 8

CASUALTIES.

FOUND WITH THROAT CUT. . An inquest was held at tho Courthouse yesterday, before ilr S. E. McCarthy, Coroner, into the death of Daniel James Honrigan, who died in the hospital on Monday, having been admitted to the institution a few days before with his throat cut. His mother lives at Bathurst, New South "Wales. John Joseph Cunningham, residing at 2i33 Moorhonse avenue, gave evidence of identification. As far as witness knew, the deceased was single, and was about 40 years of age. He boarded at witness's house. Witness last saw the' deceased alive three weeks ago last Saturday, when he appeared to be in his usual health, although he looked slightly worried. John H. McGuffog, telegraph linesman, said that on April 12th, while on his way home through Halswell, he was approached by Mr Barr, of Prebbleton, who asked witness's advice regarding .a man who was lying behind a haystack. _ Witness saw tho man, and judged him to be in a precarious condition. The police were summoned, arid it was then seen that the man's throat was cut. Witness assisted the police to put the man in a car. The wound seemed to be an old one. Dr. C. J. Campbell said that he saw the deceased at about § r>.m. on April 12th, and had attended him since at tho Hospital. The deceased was suffering from a deep wound in the throat, evidently not of recent infliction. Hi's condition was low from his_ admission, and he could not swallow his food. On Saturday, April 16th, an operation was performed by Dr. Widdowson, to enable the patient to be fed, but his condition did not improve, and he subsequently died, no doubt as the result of exhaustiou following the infliction of the wound in the throat, John McDermott, horse-trainer, Halswell, 'stated that on April 3rd a man. called at hjs house for food. Witness subsequently saw the deceased under the haystack. He was the same man that called at witness's house.

Constable William E. Tiffen, gave evidence as to removing the deceased to the Hospital. He stated that no instrument likely to nave caused the injury was found near the haystack. A pocket knife, without any bloodstains, was found later in the deceased's pocket. The inquest was adjourned until 5 &m. to-day to enable the evidence of r. Pearson, w'fio held a post-mortem on the deceased, to be heard.

Owen McGough, residing at Halswell, while riding a push bicycle, was knocked down by a motor-cycle last night, and received injuries to the thigh, necessitating his admission to the Hospital. The motor-cycle was ridden by Hugh Hayes, of Halswell, who escaped uninjured. ~

(press association telegram.) ■:'-,.■ ELTHAM, April 19. Ernest John Richards, aged 33, a single man, employed as a farm labourer, committed suicide at Marigatoki last night. He was "found with the top of his head blown off by the discharge of a shotgun.