ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1755, 21 May 1913, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

THE BOULCOTT ST. SHOOTING,

•.'/ At the .adjourned inquest by the City Coroner (Dr. A. W. M'Arthur; S.At.) into tho circumstances-surrounding the death of "Alexander Thompson, whose body was found in Boulcotfc Street oil batlll'day morning, formal medical evidence was tendered as lo tho cause of death. Tho finding of the coroner was that tho deceased died from ' a gun-shot wound, eejf-inllicted., ' • -"SMASHED TO MATCHWOOD." CAR HIT BY LOCOMOTIVE. (By Telegraph-Press Association.) ■ Dannevirke, May 20. A serious motor-car accident occurred at the dangerous Firipiri crossing shortly bei'oro 1 o'clock. The car was being driven by a young- malt named Dean, of .Wellington, and contained Miss E. Sweetapple, of Napier. When crossing tho lino it was struck by an engine and smashed to matchwood. Dean was seriously injured about tho head. He was brought to'Dannevirke for medical attention. Miss Sweetapple had a miraculous ■ escape, being practically uninjured. The victim of the motor accident, Roy Horace Dean, comes from Napier. Ho died four hours after admission to the Dannevirke Hospital. A TERRIBLE DEATH.

Auckland, May 20. An inquest was held to-day on William Smith, who met' his death in a fire in a Hobson Street boardinghouse early yesterday morning. Allen Morton stated that deceased was subject to epileptic fits, and often went to sleep with I the candle burning. At tHe"time of'.fcho fire," witness entered deceased's room, on hearing him calling loudly, and found portion of the mattress burned away, and deceased lying oil his back on the bed. He tried to lift him, but could not do so. Witness went for water to try and extinguish tho fire, but was driven out by the heat and smoke. Dr. Coldicutt deposed that in his opinion death did not take place until after the man had been partially burned alive. FATAL DISH OF MUTTON. Auckland, May 20. After their evening meal, the principal dish being stewed inntton, Mrs. Mary.Aim Rowley,' and her daughter, residing at Ponsonby Terrace, developed ptomaine ■poisoning. Mrs. Rowley diod shortly after :rom heart failure. y Tho daughter recovered. No explanation can be given of tho cause of tho poisoning. FROLIC ON A.DRAT. ■ Hamilton, May 20. Archibald M'Millan, aged seven, was riding on a dray, when a companion jokingly attempted to push him over the side. Jd'Millan's leg was caught between the spokes of a moving wheel, and was broken between the anldo and knee. ■< A NARROW- -ESCAPE. Christchurch, May 20. One of the members of tho special party which accompanied the Dunedin school children on thoir visit to Christchurch," Mr. J. Murdoch, a member of tho Mosgiei School Committee, met with a serious mishap to-day. .He was. staying at Cpker's Hotel, and did not get up ■this morning. On entering' his room ,at noon one of the hotel attendants found tho apartment full of gas, tho gas-jet in the room being turned on. Mr. Murdoch, who was unconscious, was at once conveyed to the 'Christchurch Hospital, where his condition was pronounced to be critical, though the chances of recovery were considered favourable. It is thought that when turning off the gas on' retiring last night, Mr. Murdoch unwittingly turned it' on again after tho light was extinguished. . KICKED BY A HORSE. .: Waverley, May 20. Advices to .hand from < Hawera state that Mr. Lanier, of Waverley; was the victim of a severe accident there a day or two ago. Tie was kicked on ' the head by a horse, and the latest bulletin is that his condition is regarded as serious. DEATH FROM BLOOD-POISONING. Greymoutli, May 20. An inquest was held to-day touching the death of Bertha Elizabeth Bird, married woman, who died at Ngahere last week. A verdict was returned that deceased ' met her death through bloodpoisoning. PAINFUL GUN ACCIDENT. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) ' • Wanganui, May 20. A man named Lagar was tho victim of a very painful accident, and the incident serves'to show tho value of firstaid knowledge" to all shooting men. It transpires that with a companion, tho unfortunate man was shooting near Ngutuwera, and, in attempting to dislodge a refractory cartridge-case, ho knocked tho stock of his gun on the ground, when tiie cartridge in the other barrel went off and blew, awa.v the first and second fingers of his right hand. Fortunately, his companion was an adept at first-aid work, and, help being summoned. Lagan was driven to the Waitotara Station, and thence travelled to Wanganui, where medical attention was procured and the. damaged fingers were amputated.