ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 114, 30 September 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

INJURED BY A FALLING WALL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Saturday. A well-known local resident, Peter Thompson, sen., met with a serious accident 'this morning. He was engaged in building a house when the wiiyl blew down a wall, which fell on liim, breaking his legs and inflicting other injuries. DEATH PROM A GUNSHOT WOUND. Christchureh, Last Night. Charles Plumridge, fourteen years old, died in the hospital this morning as the result of a gunshot wound, accidentally received while out shooting rabbits on the Port Hills on September 15. At the inquest evidence was given by the owner of the gun, Leonard Soman, a boy 17 years old, that on September 14 he, with deceased was shooting on the hills, and between 7 and 8 p.m. he called at deceased's house to get a drink of water. He left the gun, and forgot all about it till the following day about 11 a.m. He denied that he had lent the gun to Plumridge. The coronei asked Soman if he told the truth as to not having lent or promised to lend the gun to Plumridge, and Soman stoutly averred that he had told the truth. The coroner informed the police that that was as far as he could go, but, of course, if they got further evidence, they would possibly prosecute Soman. A verdict was recorded accordingly. The medical testimony was that deceased died from a gunshot wound, accidentally received.

A SUICIDE. Dunedin, Last Night. At the inquest on John Duncan McClue, who was found dead on Friday night with his throat cut, a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned. A JOCKEY'S DEATH. Christchureh, Last Night. After lying in a semi-conscious condition since June 19, William Retter, the jockey who was injured by falling from a horse while training at Riccarton on June 19, died on Friday night at the Christchureh Hospital. Mr. H. W. Bishop, coroner, held an inquest at the hospital this evening, when a verdict of accidental death was returned. Leonard Hegarty, a jockey, said that on June 19 Retter, Cocker and he were schooling horses over hurdles at Riccarton. Retter was riding Parallel, a horse owned by Hogan, of Westport. The horse was a jumper, and he had ridden the horse over jumps himself. Coker and Retter, during the race, were riding in front, and%e was behind. At the third fence, Retter's mount hit very hard and fell. Retter fell in front of the horse, which kicked him along, but the accident was purely the fault of the horse, as Retter had a clear course and was not interfered with. The animals were going at a nice half pace. Retter was unconscious and bleeding from the mouth when picked up. He was attended to at once and sent to the hospital.

A PAINFUL ACCIDENT. A painful accident happened yesterday to a man named Cox, at the Mokau. As far as can bo ascertained, it appears that Cox, in company with a mate named Lang, went into the bush in search of lost cattle. Lang was carrying a slasher, and while Lang was cutting away some supplejacks Cox caught his foot in a root and fell, and the slasher struck his leg, almost severing the limb. The injured man had to be carried several miles over rough country before li<j could be placed in a conveyance and brought to town. He was taken to the hospital, where his injuries were attended to by Dr. Walker.