ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9074, 14 February 1908, Page 4

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Fressv. Association. Invercargill, FebruarypS. . At the inquest oh John Thompson, aged 36, found dead in the Oreti River, evidence showed strychnine poisoning. Deceased left a letter for his:father ; indicating' that he intended ending his life, owing to trouble.’ A verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned. The police authorities have been t advised that Martin Corcoran, who recently acquired the license of the Ballarat Hotel, at Arrowtown, out bis throat this morning. The deceased was a sober man, ' but his nerves were upset following a rise in the price of market commodities. Wellington, February 13. A verdict of accidental death was returned in respect of the Wadestown mishap, by which William Wallace, was killed by a fall of earth while employed on excavation work. Dunedin, February 18. William Roche, 35 years of age, who had been employed as cook at the Glasgow Restaurant, died suddenly in bed this moring. Roche retired to bed about 10 o'clock last night, and at 5.15 this morning was found in what seemed ‘to be a fit. Restorative aid was given, and medical assistance was summoned, but ;life was extinct. Deceased is said to have a brother on the steamer Kaikoura.

Constable Graham, stationed at Outram, died suddenly this He complained of pains about the ; heart and chest during the previous day, and had received medical attention. The deceased was appointed, to the force in 1875, and was stationed at Ngapara (North Otago) for' several years William Wilson, the boy who was» badly injured in |the railway yard, on Friday evening, died in the hospital to-day. Nelson, February 13. The inquest on the Appleby coach; - and railway fatality, which occurred on February Ist, was resumed to-day when the . Railway Depratmenfc, Newman Bros, (coach proprietors),. Charles Brickland (coach driver), and others gave evidence. Miss Fitt- ■ all, one of the injured passengers, was represented by counsel. The evidence of the railway gofficials was to the effect that the train which wrecked the coach was a. passenger special, which was not tostop at Appleby unless there were passengers to be picked up. As there was noue the train proceeded at a. reduced speed. Before it reached the crossing the usual whistle was . sounded by gthe driver (Stevens). . Thejguard, driver, and fireman saw the coach approaching the line, and concluded that the coachdriver had seen the train and would stop. He, however, came on, and did not appear to be aware of his dangerSnn- ■ til within about six feet of the line, and a few yards "off the engine, which was just about to take the crossing. The engine-driver and fireman stated he then rose from his seat and urged his horses forward. The horses cleared the rails and the engine caught the coach amidsips. The guard had applied his brakes., simultaneously with the alarm whistles*of the driver, but the train . ran a considerable distance before it?, could be The coach was carried into a cattle stop, where Miss , Walters was found in an unconscious condition. The body of Mrs Tilbury was carried some distance, further. She was'killed instantly. Miss Fittall was found clear of the line, having been thrown a considerable distance. Brickland, the driver, who was. seriously injured internally, stated to have said, when, picked up, that it was a funny thing he had not heard the train approaching. Other witnesses stated that the crossing was an open one, with nothing to impede the view from the box of a coach. The inquest was adjourned until" to-morrow, and a further adjournment will probably be necessary to secure the evidence of Brickland, who will be unable to appeatr for some weeks. - Wairoa, February 14. At the inquest on Fawcett who was drowned at Morere Hot Springs the evidence showed that ha jumped from a hot into a cold pool ten feet deep. Witnesses said death was due to shock. Deceased was about 28, and a native of Yorkshire.