ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 1 June 1912, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

frMRS. THOMPSON'S DEATH. INQUEST OPENED. Yesterday afternoon an inquest was opened by Mr. W. G. I?iddell, S.M., concerning the death of Mrs. Alice Amy Thompson, who was found injured on tho Thorndon liailway station on the night of May 15, and who died in the hospital on Thursday morning. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson represented the police, and Mr. A. W. Hiitchings appeared for the liailway Department. Constable Thompson deposed that he had last seen his wife alive on the evening of May 15, when she had set out on a n»"ssagc. At the time she had a weak ankle. Dr. Hardwick Smith, house surgeon at the hospital, stated that whan, deceased was admitted she was suffering from a large and severe wound on one of her legs, and a scalp wound. She had stated

that, while walking along the Thonidon railway platform her foot had slipped, and she had fallen on to the rails, and that she must have then fainted. Deceased had progressed well until bloodpoisoning had set in. That had been the direct cause of death. Her injuries bore the appearance of having been caused by a cow-catcher or a truck. William Moreland gave evidence that he had been on duty on the railway station on the Jiightof the accident to* Mrs. Thompson. lie had seen her sitting up, and she had called .him to her assistance. She had not stated how she had come to bo on the line. The inquest was then adjourned till 11.30 this morning, when several other witnesses will bo examined.