INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MRS SPENCER.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2604, 22 August 1878, Page 3

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MRS SPENCER.

The adjourned inquest- on > the i body of Elizabeth Spencer, of Mareiti, was held this afternoon, before Dr Philson and a jury, at the Freeman's' Hotel. ■ j > i ;

Sub-Inspector Pardy appeared for the police] Mr Laishley on behalf of Mr Wm. Spencer. .... ~,,'■■■' , :J ■ '■.;. ],i'..[ r :..'■ ■ rT ,..',.-,\v Dr. Haines, who ihad made the postmortem examination, deposed that the body was well-nourished, and shpwed;no marks of violence except wounds on the neck, which, he believed, had been made by some animal after the , woman's death. , He attributed 'death' to • cold exposure and want of nourishment. i Ropata Tamihana deposed that he saw the deceased.on the beach on August 7th. Always believed her to be of unsound mind. She was always wandering about and raving, but especially in time "of full moon, She lived in the house of Charles Sarrbier, and had been missing Some days, He was searching for her. N She had, been' missing' several days. A little boy was with hmi. The place was a swamp. Her legs were in the water. She was lying on her back. She was partly clothed. She was quite dead. Her face was disfigured by rats, not by pigs. j Wm. Spenser, son of deceased, gave similar evidence. He had not seen his father for two years, and did not know where" he was. His mother liyed with witness, but left without assigning any cause. She used to wander frequently and was subject ib fits. Dr Stratford formerly attended her for them, and said they were .the consequence of .violent-temper. His home was always open to her. . : !: ; F ' '-'-•''•

Charles Sarrbier, carpenter, deposed that Mrs Spencer lived iii his house, but they were not living as man and wife together. She used to come and go as/, she liked, and wash and cook for, ;Mm. r She could not agree with fher ; daughter-in-law. , She came to him. ,'one. wet night *at ten o'clock, and he gave .her shelter. She said she would stay a few.days. .-She was a very sober wpmao, but not of sound mind. She was strange in her r habits. She said she had been happy with her sop* but did not get-enough to eat. ■; \. ,;'.:- v The..inquest was? : .proceeding-* when we went to press.' '■, -^ a'.i^i'j*.,. ; -vi% ■•;.

':?.■ When Toti Wisti fa FurntifixJfour, Mousey obtain a Book Catalogue Iro'm the, City Hall t Arcade,"whichcontains valuable information, not -only .enumerating what can be oDtained.therej"buftshWing the cost jof Furnishing a Three, Equr,Fiye, t and,Six-roomed ) ■house;:■ also^ iDrawin^oomieparately, 'jand Bachelor's Koonls. \THe;; prbprifeltors have lately purchased frorii Messrs.- Grossman and Harding the balance of their very handsome Stock of Swiss Goods, beautifully and -wonderfully carved, which are being rapidly disposed of, at Half-peice ! Also, just opened up, a large lot of Fancy Baskets and