AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2057, 21 May 1909, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

"SEE ME SHOOT MYSELF.” A fatal accident occurred at LakeHouse, near Crossy, Tasmania, when a g rl, 12 years of ago, was shot dead. Two daughters of Mr H. Adams wore going out with a pea rifle. Ono loaded ft bift tho other, being in ignorance of the fact, picked it up and, remarking, •‘See me shoot myself,” puled the trigger. The bullet passed through her forehead. Death was instantaneous. NOT DEAD. Early in December last thy body of a man was discovered floating in tho Yarra. An excellent photograph of the body, which was not identified, was taken, and subsequently it was identified by several persons as that of a man, Richard Scott, about 55 years of age. A few' days ago Scott ivalkcd into the office at the morgue to inform the constable that he was not dead. He said, "I have been told that you have tho photo of my dead body here. I have come down* from the country to seo about it.” Scott explained that lie had been working all the time on a farm near Swan-h.ll, and had only recently heard of his supposed death. He said lie had seen his wife and quieted her fears. BOYS’ MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. Two lads named Forbes and Duller had a narrow' escape of being killed while riding a w'ood truck over one ot‘ the viaducts which span the dangerous gullies at Walhalia. The trucks left tho rails, and Forbes, losing his presence of mind, threw the reins on tire horse’s hack,-with the result that after bumping along the decking, the load toppled in the gully, about SO feet below', dragging tho horses with it. Both the lads seem to have miraculously fallen clear of the trucks and heavy logs of firewood, and escaped serious injury, although Buller received a severe scaip wound which rendered him unconscious for some time. Forbes was also cut and bruised, and remained in a dazed condition for some hours. Tho horse escaped injury, despite its drop of 30 feet. FATHER COMMITTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER. An inquiry was held by the Adelaide citv coroner into the cause of death of. Isabella Higgins, 9* months, daughter of W. G. Higgins, a laborer, of Oxfordstreet, Hackney. The infant died suddenly in the Children’s Hospital, and the house surgeon refused to give a certificate for burial. The medical evidence showed that tho child had not received proper nourishment. Effie Higgins, mother of the child, said she was unable to supply the iniant with the necessary food the doctor ordered, because her husband would not give her sufficient money. Although he was earning good wages, he allowed her, on an average, only Os a week, out of which she had to pay 2s Gd a week in rent. Slie did not receive propel nourishment herself, and her neighbors assisted her. Her husband did not drink, hut spent his earnings on himself. and gambled on the races. The coroner returned a finding of manslaughter against the husband, who was committed for trial. AN OLD MAN’S SHOCKING DEATH. A tragic burning accident at Cooriu-o-oora Station resulted in the death of Jack Harper, who had been employed as erroom for a number of yeais psst. It appears that deceased, who was an old man, had some liquor on Sunday evening, and went to the kitchen fire carlv on Monday morning for the expressed purpose of making some tea He must have fallen into the fire, and remained in for some time, as when he was found some hours later lie was ljiuo- on the floor fearfully burnt, all Ins clothes from the waist upward had been consumed, and his arms and chest weic literally roasted, presenting a charred appearance. Several of his fingers were almost cinders. He was at once brought into the local hospital, and treated by Dr De Marco, hut died shortly after admission from exhaustion, consequent on shock. The doctor described tho burns as the worst lie had ever seen.

STOCKBROKER'S SUICIDE.

A. sensation was caused in Perth by the suicide of J. S. Read, a well-known stock-broker, who was found dead on the floor of his office, in St. George sterrace, with a bullet- through his brain, and a revolver, clasped m his right hand. Four leitcks addressed severally to deceased’s wife, brother-in-law, a s. - licitor, and the official receiver in bankruptcy were lyings on the desk. ftcad was, a few days previously, under examination, in tlio Bankruptcy Court, and the examination was to have heejj..r-esmitSd on the morning of ti lo t rrfttedy. Read attributed his bankr ptew mainly to the Wheel Ellen c + aso, fa bid, the’ High Court last Sopteml,cr nave judgment against bun for £Bso,“tho amount reckoned asi Ins■ ga« on tho mining lease sold to t boW l t RPon Co This case affected his busi is and bis credit, as the offer made y' him to compromise the . company s ciairn was refused,and a receiving orde obtained against him. LLis nook 1 H She had estimated at £2107 o ily realised £207, and the acS dcfideucy ill . his tia £ 8409 It transpired, that certain fares' fully pai/for hy some otta clients were not free shaies, oeuig held hi banks ami brokers as security uo-ciinut his business with tnem. ‘“Read had been suffering from diabetes for sometime, and it,is said hac been informed that he had on -, y iN/ < j a to live It appears that Read left Ins officTto go to tho Bankruptcy Court , morning, hut rotumod when ba.f way there.