ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 89, 11 May 1909, Page 2

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

PHOSPHOROUS POISONING.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Monday

At an inquest on Mr. James Smith's infant daughter, who died from phosphorous poisoning, the mother stated she gave the child castor oil aud then sent for a doctor, who, slie alleged, stated she had done quite right. The Coroner said it should be generally' known that it was most dangerous to give castor oil in case of phosphorus poisoning, tli c proper thing being an emetic. The jury returned a verdict that death was due to phosphorus poisoning, and recommended that the mother's statement in regard to the doctor be inquired into.

A GIRL'S SUICIDE,

Thames, Monday. At the inquest concerning the death of Elsie Johnston, it wa.s stated that deceased left a note addressed to the family expressing her determination to "end it all," that her home life was happy and comfortable, and that she wanted for nothing. The jury found that deceased was temporarily insane. Some years ago a cousin drowned herself almost at the same spot.

MISSING CANOEISTS,

Nelson, Monday.

The search for Lightband and the lad accompanying him has been prosecuted unremittingly, but without avail. A partly submerged eanoe was' seen but not recovered owing to the wind. A slouch hat and other articles were found, but no other trace, and faint hopes only arc entertained of their safety.

Nelson, Last Night. Dragging operations for the recovery of the bodies of tlie missing canoeists were continued to-day without success.

A CHILD INJURED.

Nelson, Last Night. A thirteen months' old child, named Heniiah, was knocked down by a train in Toitoi Valley to-day and sustained a fracture of the skull. The child is making satisfactory progress.

A GIRL'S DEATH.

Auckland, Lust Night. An enquiry into the death of a 14-year-old girl named Elizabeth 1 Lucy Cirevmvood, who died nt her father's residence at Panmure, on April 29th, was held to-day. The evidence showed that during her 'father's absence from home deceased took poison on April 14th. This fact was' discovered next day bv her stepmother, -who was in charge of tin; house. Deceased did not, in her stepmother's opinion, n]»]>ear to be sufficiently ill to warrant medical aid being called in, and no doctor saw the girl until April 20th. She had then become very ill, and although restoratives .were applied, she died within ten minutes after the doctor's arrival. Tt was stilted that the deceased had been greatly dis-l turbed by a severe cross-examination by a lawyer during her recent evidence in the 'Police Court in, connection with a charg e of assault, and that she dreaded undergoing another similar experience in the Supreme Court. The jury returnd a verdict of death by phosphorous poisoning, self-administered, and expressed the opinion that an error of judgment was committed in not sending for the doctor sooner.