ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2709, 8 September 1894, Page 4

ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES, ETC.

The suicide of William Alexander, builder and contractor at Masterton, caused a painful sensation in Northern Wairarapa, where he was wo I ', known and highly respected. Deceased had been out of work for Borne time, and was rather depressed, though he was in fairly good circumstances. He left a note addressed to his wife stating his intention to kill himself, and search revealed the body hanging in a stable by the neck. Alexander was about fifty years old, and leaves a wife and two children.

The Stato school house at Oroua Bzidgc, near Paltoerstou North, was burned to the ground on Tuesday night, and nothing was savod. It is supposed the fire was caused by a defective chimney. At the inquest on the body of a child named Ah'rod Airey, of Whakaparau, a verdi fi * was returned of death from the pft'ects of an irritant poison. There was no administered.

A case of supposed suicide is reported from Wellington. A woman named Jane Westfield resided by herself in Tarauaki street when not engaged nursiug. On Thursday her sister, Ann the ho»se and found Mrs Westfield lying on her bed fully dressed. The body

presented the appearance of having lain for. some time.. (Alongside• the bed were found a small phiaLand cup which-had .contained carbolic acid 1 Evidently the deceased had committed suicide. She had suffered 1 from some disease of the: eye. Deceased was 68 years of age, a native of London, and had been in the colony for 20 years.;;'.;;;■■;■:;: >'■;. ~-At Invercargill on Thursday, Sarah Gregory; aged 25, was. committed for trial on a charge of murdering, her illegitimate child by throwing it into a creek near Fortrose on the 18th July. Accused gave birth to the child in a garden, and threw it into the creek. She alleges that it showed no signs of life, but the medical evidence: was that the child had lived. When tne, girl's brothers found the body six weeks later, the mother told them to bury it in order to preserve ii as much as possible, . and on the -• following day apprised a clergyman and a justice of peace of -the discovery, not having any suspicion that the child washer daughter's. Bail was allowed. ' : -«U ;•--". <-■- >'■-