ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 86, 18 April 1913, Page 5

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

FOUND DEAD IN THE BUSH

[Per Press Association.] Dunedin, April 17. The body of the old man who was found in the bush near Port Chalmers cemetery has been identified as that of Robert Cole, aged 77, who worked for Mr Nisbett, painter, whose employment he left on 30th November without saying where he was going. He left the Glasgow restaurant on Friday, a few days before Xmas, saying that he would return in a week. A letter addressed to him at the restaurant was opened by the Superintendent of Police. It was from his sister, who lives at Portsmouth, England, and contained a Xmas card. MARTON RAILWAY FATALITY. Marton, April 17. Broad, injured at the railway crossing, died at seven o’clock.

DIED AT THE MORNING WATCH

Christchurch, April 17. A sad death occurred at Godley Head lighthouse about six o’clock this morning, when David Partington, head lighthouse-keeper, passed peacefully away just at the conclusion of his morning watch. Mr Partington had been for some time past suffering from heart trouble, and he had been advised by Dr. Newell, of Lyttelton, to take a complete rest. Partington had arranged for his relief. In company with his brother, who is a warder in the Lyttelton Gaol, Partington was; seated' in the' lighthouse early, this morning, waiting for ‘sunrise. before; extinguishing the light, , when, without ' warning, and quite peacefully, he suddenly expired.' Par.t i ugto n, who, wa§ about. 5 ; 5, yqai'jS.,of age, leaves a widow, one son and a daughter. He was one of the oldest keepers in the lighthouse service, and had been stationed at numerous lighthouses, including Puysegur Point, Akaroa Head and Nugget Point, being transferred from the last-mention-ed place : about eighteen months ago.

SUPPOSED SUICIDE.

Hokitika, April 17

lA search party to-day discovered the body ef James Henderson, a miner, who had been missing from his home since Monday. Deceased was found in an abandoned drive, about two miles south of Hokitika, with a large wound in his throat. He was 59 years of age, and leaves a widow arid eleven children. An inquest is proceeding. The evidence points to suicide.

TEMPERANCE MAN’S MISTAKE. Dunedin, April 16. At the inquest in regard te the death of George Allen, insurance agent, whose body was found on St. Clair beach last Saturday, the evidence disclosed a rather unfortunate aspect as regards the cause of death, which was due to cold and exposure. A witness, an officer in a temperance lodge, saw deceased—apparently under the influence of liquor—on the path on Friday afternoon and tried hard to rouse him, but failed. After finding some insurance papers he reported the man’s condition to the company concerned, hut no further action was taken, and Allen was found 24 hours later. A verdict that death was due to cold and exposure was returned, the Coroner remarking that there had been an unfortunate error of judgment on the part of the witness who found Allen under the influence of liquor.