ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1254, 18 October 1884, Page 1

ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES, ETC.

Kingswell's fellniongery at Waikiwi (Southland) a large establishment, was burnt down on Thursday night. The Chairman of the Wellington Early Closing Association was fined Is and costs for holding a demonstration in front of a non-closing draper's shop. Mr Thos. Shephard, formerly an M.H.R., was struck with paralysis on Wednesday night at Dimedin as he was leaving the Occidental Hotel. He is expected to recover. He is in a destitute state.

A fatal accident has occured at a Whangapoa sawmill (Auckland). John Turner, employed in clearing away sawdust, was caught by the main shaft. Both arms and the clothes off his body were taken off. It is not known how the accident occurred. His clothes and one arm were wound round the shaft.

In the Divorce Court, Dunedin, on Wednesday, before Judge Williams, the case F. W. Newman v. Eliza Newman and Slodden was heard. The petitioner asserted that the respondent is at present living with che co-respondent at Waimate. He had not seen her for the past nine years, but had not previously had funds to institute proceedings. The case was adjourned for evidence as to the cohabitation at Waimate.

The body of the missiDg man John McPhee was found on Sunday afternoon within two miles of the Serpentine (Otago). Though exposed for a fortnight, the body, owing to the high altitude of the locality and the cold weather, was not in any way decomposed. It was snowing when deceased left the Serpentine, and he apparently had got off his horse and lain down to sleep in some tussocks. An empty whiskey bottle was found by his side.

At Kyeburn, in Manietoto County (Otago), a two year old boy named Eliot George was found drowned in a duck pond a foot deep. The top of his head was dry when the body was taken out. He was found lyiDg on his back with his hands in the air. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict to the effect that there was no evidence to sb-ow how the deceased got into the waterhole in which he was found, and there was not sufficient testimony to prove whether he died from drowning or from fright. Gibson, a lunatic, has been at large at Napier for three weeks, and the Asylum attendants were out for a fortnight searching for the man, but could hear of no clue. Many settlers' houses have been entered and food taken, whilst in two cases guns have been stolen, and no clue could be found to the perpetrator, who was never seen. Since Monday two constables have been out, being accompanied by a man named Busch and a settler named Palmer. They scoured the bush, and the constables had to return to town on Thursday morning to attend to the District Court. Busch then appears to have followed up the scent, and at halfpast six o'clock a settler in Wairoa Gorge, named Kerr, heard the report of a gun, and on looking back saw Busch staggering. Busch said that Gibson had fired at him from behind a fence. A telegram received says that Busch had been attended by Dr Satchell, who reports that the man's injuries consist of gunshot wounds in lungs, face and arm. The settlers have turned out with guns to hunt down the lunatic, but fears are entertained that others may be shot. At the Divorce Court, Christchurch, on Wednesday, before Mr Justice Johnston, the case Mcßae v. Mcßae was taken. The respondent was formerly a wine and spirit merchant in Christchurch, and was well known at Hokitika. He has recently left Christchurch, and did not appear to defend the action either personally or by counsel. The petitioner, Jane Mcßae, was previously to her marriage the adopted daughter of the Hon. J. T. Peacock. She married Mcßae at <he Wesleyan Church, St. Albans, in June,' 1877, and had two children by him. They had lived together at Hokitika and Christchurch, the last five years at the latter place. For three years they lived in the Hon. J. T. Peacock's house, and two years in separate residences, till in August last the petitioner left her husband's house because she said he had illused her so much that she was frightened to live with him. In her evidence Mrs Mcßae said, " respondent struck me three times during the last three months before I left the house. On the first occasion he had gone to sleep in a separate room. I went into the room to make his bed, and he kicked me on the thigh with his heavy nailed boots. The pain lasted two or three days. He was sober at the time. That same night he took his boot and with it made a blow at my head. I put up my hand, and received a blow from the heel of the boot on it. The marks of the blow remained several days." On another occasion Mrs Mcßae said respondent had struck her with his fists between the shoulders, so violently that she was stunned for the moment. It was alleged that respondent had committed adultery with various women in 1881, 1882 and 1883, and had had one illegitimate child. His Honor granted a decre nisi, to take effect three months after date.