ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2725, 21 March 1916, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

OVERDOSE OP OPIUM

INQUEST AT THE HOSPITAL.

Circumstances connected with tb* death of John Apperley at the Wellington Hospital on March H formed tlio subject of an inquest held by the City Coroner (Ajr. ]3. G. A, Cooper, S.M.) yesterday afternoon. Sergeant O'Halloran represented the police at the inquest. Apperley was 41 years of age, and a carpenter by trade. For the past two years bo had been a lodger at the residence of Mr. J, D. M'Phee, bootmaker, Dominion Avenue. He was known w partake of intoxicating liquor (though not to excess), and was subject to fits, but was not believed to be addicted to drugs. On the morning of March 13 he complaincd of a prevailing stomach trouble, and said 'ho htci been recommended to try a certain remedy. About B.iio o'clock in the evening he was seen to collapse on Lambton Quay, and was subsequently arrested on a charge of insobriety. Apperley appeared ul at til© police station, and was attended first by Dr. Henry and then by Dr. 1 attie. The former was of opinion that Apperley had had a fit and would bo all right in two or three hours. Dr. Puttie later said that Apperley was in a serious condition, and appeared to have had a dose of chloroform and opium. Tlie doctor advised immediate removal to. the Hospital. Apperley was admitted to the Wellington Hospital about 3 o'clock on the morning of March 14, in a comatose condition, and died an hour later. Dr. B. I>\ Aldred, one of the house surgeons at the hospital, stated that death was*duo to opium poisoning, the case being a hopeless one from the start. The deceased's condition, following an overdose of opium, would resemble that of a very drunker man.

The Coroner relumed.a verdict thai deceased died from opium poisoningnut remarked that there was no evidence to show Low he obtained the. opium. It appeared that he had been suffering from .stomach pains, and had been recommended to try a painkiller. .0 doubt the remedy was takeri to alleviate these pains, and probably the deceased took too much, but thero wa? no clear evidence on the point. .

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

By Telegraph—Prtsß . Association.

Hamlltom March 20. ■ Hansen, the young mail who disap* pearecT mysteriously at the Thames a ago, ana of whom nothing has since bflen heard, has a sister resident at Frankton. She , states that he was of a very quiet disposition and v en >P el ' a te. She also states that about five yoars ago a relative of the name of Hansen disappeared in exactly the same way at Whangarei. He rode into the town one evening, plaoed his horse in a stable, and: on leaving was never heard of or seen again.

TWO PERSONS DROWNED. Cisborne, March 20. Tokomaru Bav reports two deaths by drowned. Charles Bramell, book-keepre attempting to cross a swollen creek, got entangled in. driftwood and - was drowned. Charles Bramell, bokkeeper to the Tokomnru Bay Farmers' Co-oper-ative Company aged 82, unmarried, was awept out to sea while bathing.

FOUND DEAD ON THE ROADSIDE.

. , Cisborne, March 20. \\aipiro Bay reports that Robert Armstrong, an elderly man, was found dead 011 the roadside. At tho inquest, a verdict of death from natural causos, accelerated by exposure, was returned. ' SUICIDE BY HANGING. Auckland, Maroh 20. A man named Ernest CuthbertsoU, ngpd 35 years, married, committed suicide to-dn.y in a hotel by hanging himself to a bed-post by his necktie. FOUND DEAD IN THE BATHS. _ Napier, March 20. Following'is the police description of ft stranger found dead in the 'municipal bath-house ■ this morning Age 60, height sft. Bin., strongly built, crisp, grey, curly hair, head bald on top, dark coat and vesti light trousers, brown felt hat, all clothing is old. In a pocket was a pair of spectaoles, stamped Weber, optician. THROWN FROM A HORSE. A boy" named Wilkinson, aged 14 years, and residing at Wadestown, was admitted to the Hospital last night suffering from a severe knock on the head. Wilkinson and .a, companion were riding a horse, when the animal bolted, both boys being thrown off. Dr. Pattie was called in, and Wilkinson was" ordered to the Hospital.' Wilkinson's companion, after being treated by Dr.- Pattie, was able to proceed to his home.

■lie shipping returns of %> Port of Wellington for the last tweFe months show an increase over tho previous year. t The harbourmaster's 1 report states: "During the year there arrived from -the United Kingdom direct 28 steamers with a net tonnago of 139,052: via New Zealand coastal ports, 47 steamers with a net tonnage of 225,749 j from intercolonial ports direct 110 Bteamors with a' not- tonnago of 268,887, and 2 sailing vessels with a net tonnage of 1998; via. New Zealand coastal ports, 35 steamers with a net tonnage of 71,704; from New Zealand coastal ports. 3104 steamers with a not tonnatro of 2,162,030, and 83 sailing vessels with a net tonnage of 4076. From British possessions other than Australian colonies direct there arrived 9 steamerd with, a net tonnage of 24,050, and 1 Bailing vessel with a net tonnage of 398; via New Zealand coastal ports 24 steamors with a not tonnage of 85,981; from foreign ports direct, 27 steamers with a net tonnage of 74,965; via Now Zealand coastal ports, 24 steamers with a net tonnage of 73,581, making the total arrivals of steamers 3406 with a net tonnage ot 3,146,599; sailing vessels 36 with .a net. tonnage of 6472; and it total of all classes 3442 vessels with a net tonnage' of 3.153,071. Not included in ihoabovo, being free vessels, transports _ from _ British ports (other than colonies) direct, 7 steamers with a net tonnago of 23,202; via New Zealand ports, 2 steamers with a net tonnage of 8216; from intercolonial ports direct, 2 steamers with a net tonnago of 5549; from New _ Zealand coastal ports, 16 steamers with a net tonnapa of 61,352; and,also Government vessels (from New Zealand coastal ports') 87 with a net tonnago of 12.044; warships, 4 witli a tonnage of 33,796 (displacement). This makes a grand total of all arrivals, 3510 with a net tonnage of 3,297,230."