Constable John Boyce, 1851-10/9/1876.

A Sad Case. 

— A peculiarly sad and painful case has been brought under our notice. Something more than two years ago, Constable John Boyce, who was then at Woodlands, while engaged in the execution of his duty, met with an accident which bids fair to incapacitate him for life. While out on horseback, in pursuit of an offender against the law, we believe his horse baulked or shied, through which action Boyce's leg got caught in a fence, and his hip joint was dislocated. However, of this he did not take much notice at the time, but hastened on in pursuit of the offender, caught him, brought him into court, and got a sentence passed upon him. Although he occasionally suffered intense pain, Boyce unwisely allowed a considerable time to pass before he brought his case under the notice of any medical man, and when at last he did this, his injury was found to be a most serious one, for when an attempt was made to reset the joint, it was found that some ligament or tissue had taken up a position between the joint and the socket. Of course the poor fellow, being unfit for duty, had to leave the force. He was removed to the Dunedin Hospital, but it appears that he did not succeed in obtaining effectual treatment, for he has lately gone to the hot springs at Rotomahana, in the North Island, in the hope of getting some relief. Apart from his own bodily suffering, the sad thing is that Boyce's wife and children, being unprovided for, have to depend for support on his brother, who is himself only a private member of the Otago police force. Constable Boyce had been in the force for three years and a half, and was a most trustworthy and efficient officer, and seeing that he met with a fatal accident while in the public service, we think that Government might enquire into his case with, the view of rendering some assistance to him and his family.   -Southland Times, 29/3/1876.

DEATHS.

Boyce. — On the 10th inst., at Caversham, John Boyce, aged thirty years. late of Mounted Constabulary, Invercargill. Invercargill papers please copy.  -Evening Star, 11/9/1876.

For some reason John Boyce's gravestone has the correct day but the wrong year inscribed on it.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.