ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2589, 11 October 1915, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

THE FATAL FIRE AT MAPUNA HOTEL. • VERDICT AT THE INQUEST. 1 (By Telegraph—Press Association J . . Whangarol, October 9. The inquest on the victims of the Mapuna Hotel fire opened this raorning, bel'oro tho Coroner. The medical evidence, slowed that Oxley, sen., died of suffocation, and that the boy Oxley had four, bullet, wounds in his head", '.which!; did • not >cause instantaneous death. The; boy ,liad- died from coma: and-'suffocation,' but would' not have recovered from' Jus wounds. A revolver was found 'containing four exploded cartridges. Evidence given byfemale servants and ; the' cook ; showed that. Oxlov . worried over money matters, and previous to tho lire had called. the girl from the 'bed-, room to -say good-bye, ."but ho special importance', was:.attached"! to this,; as. he had done so before. When advised tbi leave the collection of accounts for the day lie replied, that it . would be too late. The evidence indicated thai the man's mind was unhinged, ■ though ho was not noticeably erratic.;, The Coroner returned a verdict to tho effect tji'at Oiley had' "murdered his son by firing four shots into his head, with a revolver, • and had afterwards set the . house on fire,' as the' result ofiwhioli he", and the Native Peihope perished by guf--focation. FOUND DEAD.; , Dunedln, October 10.__ John Hudson Falcon, 1 a, labourer, 66 years of age, married, living at Mosgiel, was found dead this morning' at 6 o'clock. •; '• :■ / I ; STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.. . V Woodvllle, October 9. ! Last-night a boy,/when taking": the. mail from Kumeroa up to ; otawhao! Valley, had his horso killed under him by lightning. The boy got home in a dazed condition, but/ was uninjured. He had no knowledge of what happened. ! A FARMER KILLED. '• . Auckland, October 9. George Nelson: Bryant, .farmer, • of Karaka, ■ was killed through being dragged by a liorsa which bolted while he had a rope round his hand He ,was dragged a distanca of fifteen chains. Bryant was married. Ha was 43 years of age. . ■. \ SCHOOL TEACHER DBOWNED. : / Auokland, October! 9. Miss M'Laren, scnooi teacner, at Ngutunui, thirteen niiles from Otorohanga, was drowned'-while'attempting 'to. lord the Makararoa River. She was riding ■with a small boy behind her : when- the horse got into difficulties. The boy's father/ who was waiting !on the . bank, rushed into tlie river. He saved his son, but was itnablo to help Miss . M'Laren.- .