ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2130, 12 July 1907, Page 3

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Press Association. DUNEDIN, Yesterday. ' An old age pensioner named Jolir Richard-Merritt was found dead ir his house in Albion Mace last night He suffered from asthma and broil cliitis. When found he was sitting on the side of the bed, lifeless. NAPIER, Yesterday. The adjourned inquest on Charles Henry Jones, aged 19, a farm laborei who died on May- 14th under circum stances suggesting poison, was helc yesterday. The report of the Go, vernment analyst on the contents ol the stomach stated that arsenic wa; found in large quantities, while trace; of arsenic were discovered in a turn!) ler found near diseased’s wham. The jury found death due to arsenica poisoning, but there was no evidence to show whether the poison was takei intentionallly.

CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday. An old man named Charles Coom bridge was injured to-day by a tram ear. He was driving a trap, and was struck by a car from New Brighton. Coombridge was very deaf, and neaisighted, and did not see or hear the. car, and drove straight on to the line the car smashing into the' trap at right angles. The horse was killed, and'the trap badly smashed, and the car also suffered. Coombridge was taken to the hospital, where his mjuries were fo'uncl to he not severe but the escape from instant death was miraculous.

AUCKLAND., last night. Constable McGovern, stationed at Pukekoho, has reported by telegraph to Inspector Cullen that William Gillan Begbie, aged 23, who had been missing since the 7th inst., was found dead in*the bush at Pukekohe East this morning, .with a revolver lying alongside. It is supposed to be a case of suicide.

MARTON, last night. A young man named John Pearson had a marvellous escape from death to-day. ' He was connecting a pipe on the bridge across the stream. Bv some means lie set a screw on the intermediate shaft of the working factorv machinery, which caught his clothes, which were completely torn from his body, winding round the shaft from the shoulder. Pearson hull" on to the stringer with one hand, and it was fortunate that his clothes were wrenched from his body, otherwise lie would have been whirled round the shaft and dashed against tlie stringers on both sides. As it was he was drawn between the decking and the stringer, about 12in in width. His arm was broken, and ho fell into the stream 18ft below tie bridge and landed on his feet. He managed to get a bike to the factory and report the accident. In addition to a fractured arm his bod was badly bruised.