ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

(DY TELEOKirU—I-UESS ASSOCIATION.! 9 FOUND NEAR THORNDON BATHS. A SAD FATALITY. At tho morgue yesterday, before Dr. A. M'Arthur, coroner, an inquest was held concerning the death of Thos., Henry Randall, whoso body was found at 7 a.m. yesterday floating outside the Thorndon Baths. Const-ablo \ouiig, in evidence, said that about 7 a.m. ho was at tho Thorndon Baths, when some of tho bathers called out that there was a man in tho water between tho baths and the bcatshed. Tho constable got the body out of the water, and found that it was the body of a man fully dressed and with his boots on. Round his legs above the anklo3 was tied an old scarf and round tho outside of his clothing there was a belt. His clothing was buttoned up, with a cap inside the vest. There were no marks of violence to bo seen, but the body was covered with a kind of prickly heat. A search of effects failed to disclose any money, but several papers, including a discharge from the Birmingham Wagon Company, Limited, and some testimonials, tho latest of which was dated 1902, wore found. There was also a certificate showing that deceased belonged to the Lorno Lodge of Freomasons, and dated July 13, 1908, Cape Town, South Africa. In n pocketbook found on the body was an address, "•Mγ. A. Randall, 2 Denleigh Plnco, Lorrington Road, South Ashford, Kent, England." Tho body may have been in tho water 24 hours.

Constable J. J. Gallagher, stationed at La-mbton Quay, said that he inspected tho body at the police station, and recognised it as that of Thos. Randall, who had been before the Court on February 6 charged with vagrancy. lie was remanded until February 10, on which date ho was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Ho had' stated that ho was a fitter by trade,' ; and 45 ; years of age. To witness ho had said that ho had recently come over from Australia, but had been unable to pot work. In December, 1903, ho had been inquired for in tho list of missing friends. When arrested deceased was sleeping out, and appeared to be despondent. In his notebook was found a memo.: "What as (? is) to bo done."

The coroner found a verdict that deceased met his death by drowning—apparently, a case of suicide. A MYSTERIOUS DEATH. INQUEST AT CHRISTCHURCH. (DY TELEGRAPH—riIESS ASSOCIATION.) ' Christchuroh, March 23. Suspicious circumstances appear to have developed in connection with the death of the man, agod 70, Andrew Douglas Hardie, whoso bodynvas found lying outside a cottage near Dudley Creek, at Richmond, on Sunday moming. The body was , removed to the morgue to await tho inquest which was to be held yesterday. X post-mortem examination, however, revealed the fact that the man's back right ribs had been broken. Tho body was found with the head supported by a rolledup Maori kit, and had evidently boon moved to tho spot where it lay. At the inquest proceedings yesterday, tho coroner stated that in such cases it was not usual to proceed without a jury, and adjourned the inquiry until this afternoon in order that a jury might be summoned. The inquest was resumed in the afternoon. Dr. Mill gave evidence to the effect that the spine was dislocated, and eight ribs on the right side of tho body broken. One of these had penetrated the heart. Tho injuries were all ante-mortem. and might have been caused by a motor-car striking the man's back and side. There wore no external marks of violence. If ho was struck by a car, it was possible- that there would bo no marks, because death followed so quickly after the blow. Deceased would not nave, been able to walk from the scene of the acaidont to tho place at which tho body was found, B dintanco of 15 yards. Ho would be absolutely incapable of stooping, and therefore could not place the kit under his head. L. C. Gardner said that, on Saturday afternoon at 3.45, he saw deceased working at Dudley Creek within a few yards of where lie was found dead. Later deceased left for town by tram. Witness did not see him until Sunday morning at 9.30, when he found him lying in a paddock on the broad of his back, with his head lodged on a Maori kit, and one arm twisted up over his head. His hat, which was 3ft. away from him, had a dent in it, and appeared us though it had been .in a pool of water. There was nothing to indicate that he had been dragged along. The body was about three-quarters of a chain from the roadway. There was a gate 6ft. high between the place where tho body was found and the roadway.

At this stage tho inquest was adjourned til! 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, in order to allow the police to make, further inquiries. SCHOOLMASTER SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED. Mow Plymouth, March 23. The "Daily News" correspondent telegraphed to-night that it was believed that Mr. J. E. Gulliver, schoolmastor at Tongaponitu, had been drowned. After closing the school lir Ant with his little son to the river, but not returning by 7 o'clock, Mrs. Gulliver became alarmed, and went to the river, where she found the littlo boy, but no sign of her husband. He was not a good swimmer, and is supposed to havo been wearing artificial swimming wings. A search party is dragging tho river, but" thero is no sign of the body.