INQUEST.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2074, 31 July 1896, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Wednasday, the 29th inst., at Terawera Valley. Little River, on the body of Mary Hannah Phillips, before Geo. H. Saxron, E-q., Coroner. The jury were Messrs Wm. Owene (Foreman), J. Hands, G. Owens, R. Russell S. Thomas, and W. Forrester. James Phillips being sworn, deposed : I am a labourer residing in Terawera Valley, •LitMe River. I am the husband of the deceased, Msry Hannah Phillips. Yesterday morniDg at twenty-five minutes to sevfen I spoke to her, and tod her it waa tinie to get up. She said it was time enbugb. At twenty minutes to seven I spoke to her again ; I said it was time to gfet up. She replied she was sleepy, and she did not speak again. I noticed her breathing hard. I got up and got a light. She was lying on ber left eide. I leaned over her, and sbe drew her last breath at a quarter to seven a.m. I went for Dr. Morris, and he came op. She seemed in her usual health when sbe retired for tbe night, about nine o'clock p.m. Wilbelm Morris deposed ; I am a duly qualified medical man. residing in Li tie River. Yesterday morning, the 28th inst., half-past eight a.m,, W. Phillips called at my place and wanted me to come up and see his wife. I arrived at his house about half-past nine a.m., and found Mrs Phillips lying on her left eide and life extinct; and as I could not account for the cause of death I informed the police. Toaday, the 29th instant I made a post mortem of the chett cavity. There ate no external marks of violence on the body. The deceased is exceptionally fat. The reeu't of the post mortem shown a gre»t enlargement and fatty degeneration of the heart, which perfectly account* for her sadden dents.

The jury returned a verdict of death from natural onuses, viz., fatty degeneration of the heart.