DEATH OF MISS ELLEN CASEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1898, Page 4

DEATH OF MISS ELLEN CASEY.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

THAMES, this day.

The inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of Miss Ellen Casey .was resumed at the Court house last night, by the Coroner (Mr A. Bruce) and the following jury : Messrs John Frater (Foreman), T. A.'Dunlop, R. James, W. Woodward, W. J. Bray, and J, W. Rickit. Inspector Hicksori* represented the police. Mr E. J. Clendon watched the proceedings in the interests of the deceased's relations.

STATEMENT BY THE CORONER,

The Coroner said he purposed holding the inquest in camera. The public would be excluded, the only persons to be allowed to be present being the jury, witnesses, police, and representatives of the press.

THE WITNESSES.

Inspector Hickson asked that all witnesses should le'ftve the Court.

The Coroner: Certainly. Mr Clendon : 1 appear on behalf of the relatives of the deceased.

MRS O'BRIEN'S STATEMENT,

The first witness called was Kose O'Brien, who said she was matron at the Head Police Station, Auckland. She knew the deceased. 0 n Sunday, the 2nd of January, she saw the deceased in Auckland in company with Mr and Mrs James Casey. Witness went over to the North Shore with them on that day. In the course of a conversation between witness and Mrs James Casey, the latter told her that the deceased bad come to town for the purpose of procuring a miscarriage. She said that they had been to Dr. Wilkins' rooms' in Shortlandstreet, and arrangements had been made to perform an operation on the following morning, January 3rd. Witness asked her if the mother of the deceased knew. She replied " No.'' She said that she herself did not know until she came from the Thames or she would not have left. Witness told her she had better tell her husband about the matter and we would send a wire for the deceased's mother to come. Witness said in the meantime she would see Dr. Wilkins and . see if she could prevent his having anything to do with the deceased. Witness went to Dr. Wilkins' rooms on Monday morning at 9 o'clock, and saw him there. Witness asked him if a young woman had called on him that morning. He said " No," he did not know of any person coming that morning. Witness said she understood that a young woman who had got into trouble was to call on him, and that he was to assist her to get out of it. He said, " What have you to do with the matter, why did you come ?" Witness said she came as a friend of the deceased's mother. Then he said, "Oh, that is the young person from the Thames," and seemed to know by that time that witness knew- all about it. Then he spoke to witness quite freely on the matter. He said there was a young person who came to him in great trouble—

Inspector Hickson : Up to the time had any name been mentioned ? Witness said she could not remember. She thought he did not mention the name before, but Miss Casey's name was then mentioned. He said "She came from the Thames, did she not?" Witness.replied " Yes, ;> and asked if there was any danger attaching to an operation of that kind. They were talking about an- opera : tion to procure a miscarriage at the time. He said." No, provided that it is properly done." He said he had had 9,000 cases of eonfineruentand miscarriages in Iris time, and that he had seldom hail anything go wrong. He added : " No matter how cleverly the operation is performed sometimes nature went against you." Sometimes from one cause and sometimes from another. He said he really did not like that sort of work, but he did it out of sympathy for the young people. He always felt so sorry for young people in that position.' He said they came to him crying and threatening very often to take their lives, and he did it more often out of sympathy for them. He said he had made a vow that he would not perform an operation of the kind again without being paid first. In this case it was to bo twenty guineas. Then he said, "of course the English law is very much against this sort of tiling." He added that in France and America it was considered quite the correct thing to do. He went on to say that "of course, in this case, if it was known, he would get twenty years, the young woman herself would get ten, and her friend, Mrs James Casey, would get ten years also." He then added " and you would get seven years." Witness said "Yes ; 1 know." Dr. Wilkins said " That is the English law !" Witness replied : " I know a little about law," and told him she came from the police station. Witness said "[ am police matron there." He said "Even so you are implicated in it." Witness replied "Oh, no, you don't understand me, I came here to prevent yon performing any operation of the kind." He said " That is a different matter, I understood you wanted it done." Then he said " Did the young girl know you came on her behalf?" Witness replied that she did not and did not know anything about it. He asked witness if she was going to report him. Witness said no, providing that he had nothing to do with an operation. Witness said to him, "If you will give your word of honour as a, gentleman that you will not perform any operation I will not report you." He promised that he would not perform an operation. Witness then asked Dr. Wilkins to do her a favour. If the deceased called on him she wished that he should not tell her that he was not going to operate on her. She thought that as she had heard that deceased was very determined to have it done, and was afraid that if Dr. Wilkins did not do it she would go to someone else. She wanted the doctor to put her oft' in some way until witness had time to send a wire to the deceased's mother, who was at the Thames. He promised he would make an excuse that he could not perform the operation, as it was a holitfay. He also promised that he' would not perform an operation without the mother's consent, or without witness knowin«- of it. Witness told him that he would not get the mother's consent or witness. Witness said to the doctor " What you people call getting young people out "of trouble, we call murder." Witness told him she would go and send a wire to the deceased's mother. He asked witness what she was going to put in the wire, . and she replied that she was going to say "Come at once." He seemed rather frightened about -witness' sending a wire. Witness then'left, and that was all she knew about Dr. Wilkins' connection with the matter. On her way to the Telegraph Office she met Mrs James Casey, whom she told of her intention. Mrs Casey advised her not to send the -wire, giving as a reason that it would frighten deceased's mother as she would not know what Mas the matter. She said she and her husband had a conversation about the matter on the previous night with the deceased and they had all decided to go back to the Thames on the Tuesday. Witness therefore did not send the wire. That was all witness knew about the matter. The three persons she had mentioned were Mrs James Casey, Mr James Casey, and the deceased.

What action did you take subsequently ? Witness: There, was a message left at witness' place from the deceased's aunt

that Miss Casey was dead. Witness tt,« went to Newmarket to have aconV er J ° with the deceased's aunt, and ascertain? 11 cause o deceased^ death. S atet deceased's aunt was Mrs Clifton, and li? ness found she .had left for the- Thnm Witness then informed Inspect S£ of what she knew. il^son. To Mr Clendon : The whole of the IW conversation with Mrs Jan.es Casey £ place on board the steamer. Her sh meats were merely hearsay/ as the ,!!'• ceased was not present. Witness had £ knowledge whether the statements ma 2 were true or untrue, or whether ant operation was contemplated at the tine She knew nothing except what Mrs'CaiW told her. e(, Mr Clendon : Did you make any note in writing about the matter ? • .- ■

The Coroner: I won't allow any cross examination of the witness, nor will t allow her to be badgered. Witness: No. 1 knew the family so well that I took a great interest in her The deceased's mother had nursed me for many years. I felt very sorry for the whole family and that is wiiy 1 remember so'well what passed. The result of my conversation with Dr. Wilkins was that heW mised not to perform the operation; The Caseys all"went back to the Thames without the operation.being performed. Mr James : Are you satisfied in yfcu r own mind that when you referred to the deceased in Dr. Wilkins' presence, that he knew whom you referred to ?

Witness : Yes. Mr James : Why are you sure ot the fact ? ■•.•"'•.

Witness: Because he spoke of her hy name.

Mr James: You have no prejudice against the-medical gentleman you alluded to ? "•.•....

Witness : None at all.

The foreman : Why did not you ask Miss Casey regarding the condition she was in, instead of relying upon what Mr' Casey or Mrs Casey told you ?

Witness : I did not learn of it from Mr Casey, I learnt it from Mrs Casey. The Coroner : The witness is not answerable for what she did not do. She has only to answer as to matters of fact.

Witness said that in course of conversation with Dr. Wilkins he told her that the deceased had called upon him three weeks previously to speak about an operation. He also said he would not perform an operation unless he was paid in advance.

FRANK KIDD'S EVIDENCE.

Frank Kidd said be was a miner residing at the Thames and knew the deceased. He was well acquainted with her, having know her for fifteen months.

The Inspector : Will you tell the Court of the nature of your relationship with the deceased ? .■ • ■

Witness : I was acquainted with her for fifteen months. I met the deceased in Auckland, I think it was the Friday before the New Year. She wanted some money from me. Then I told her that I would not give her any money, unless! paid it to her in a proper, legal way. She accused me of getting her into trouble and of being the father of her unborn child. She agreed to have the money paid over to her in a ' proper manner. I arranged to see her- on the following day and see it carried out.; Between the time this occurred and the next day I was' led to believe that I was being " had." Mr James: May I ask the meaning of that term?

Witness? I thought the deceased was' not pregnant. ■■

Inspector Hickson :; Did she tell you she was pregnant? v/V;

Witness : Yes, but I did riot believe her,' When I met her next day rshe accused me and.-said that if I did. not believe her I* could ask Dr. Wilkins. 1 asked 7 Dr, Wilkins, and he told me he did -jfpt: I know deceased. At least ho said.'he was not quite sure if he knew^-Viec or not, as he had so many patients come to ?ee him. He told me to tell her to call on him, and he would tell me-what her condition was, and also whether he knew her or not. She called on him, and he told me that he knew her arid that she Mas as she had said. He charged her 10s 6d for his advice. I then told deceased that I was going hack to the Thames, and advised her to settle the liiatter quietly. She returned to the Thames and on her return I called upon her at her mother's house. This was on the Wednesday after the New Yeaiv I met her mother, and we had a conversation about the matter. The deceased and her sister were also present. It was finally arranged to settle the matter on my paying £30. The next day I consulted a solicitor, and" he advised me to have a deed drawn up and get her to sign it. This was done, and the £30 was paid to j the deceased in the presence of Mr Day, solicitor. This was on the Friday following. I was not present when the money was paid over. During the conversation at the mother's house the deceased agreedwith her mother to consult a doctorto have an operation performed. The deceased begged to have an operation performed, but the mother seemed very much averse to it. This was in my presence. The operation mentioned was to produce a mis carriage. I said it was a thing which did not concern me at all, that when I had once paid the money they were at perfect liberty to do what they like 4 with it. The mother seemed very much against anything of the kind being done. The sister seemed to agree with the proposal. The deceased sister begged of her mother to allow the operation to be performed. I remembered the 11th of this month. On that date I was reading on the verandah of the house where I was lodging. Deceased's sister Clara came to the house and spoke to me. She said that her motherand sister had come back from Auckland, and that they expected Dr. Wilkins down that evening. That was all the conversation that took place. The same evening 1 went to the Royal Hotel and I saw Dr. Wilkins there. Previous to my going to the Royal Hotel I made. it my business to see if Dr. Wilkins had come down, because I was still under the impression that I had been blackmailed. While waiting at the bottom of the WaiotahiCreekl saw a man come down the road from the direction of the house, and that man was Dr: Wilkins, who went to the Royal Hotel. On Tuesday evening, j the 12th, Miss Clara Casey called at the house where I was lodging again, but I 1 may mention that she did not call to see me.' She told me that her -sister and mother were very ill. She asked me if I would do her the kindness to get her a bottle of brandy, as she did not like to go to an hotel-by herself. In the first part of our conversation she told me that Dr. Wilkins had been down the previous evening. She did not say that Dr. Wilkins had done anything, hut simply said that be was there. I got the brandy and gave it to her. I took it to the" gate and took it to Miss Casey, who was in a great state when I. met her at the gate, and was crying bitterly about her sister's state. An evening or two afterwards I chanced to meet her in the street, and she told me that her sister was a great deal better. Since that evening I have not seen her. On the night before the funeral, that was on the 20th, 1 was standing at Mulligans corner, when someone called me aside. The person who did so was Mr James. Casey," but I did not know him at the time.- • H?' told me that the police had been to the house, and asked me, if they called on me, to say that I had nothing to'do with the deceased. I told him I could do nothing of the kind, as she had already signed a deed . admitting the state in which she was. * asked him what doctor had been attending her, and he told me ii was Dr. Callan. He said he did not know wbether Dr Callan

i (riven a certificate of death or not, and * leffc me t0 S° to s. ee Dr- Cal]an- He i odid lie thought his mother had made nidant of Di: Callan. He said nothing *^ t ] ier . condition at all. After paying i £30 1 know not^iu of tne proceedings 7 ii, e ' deceased. To Mr Clendon : Previously to the 30th iwen'ibei' i expressed to the girl's mother jnbts as to whether she was pregnant, frequently I have expressed the same j bt -This was expressed to her. The the'r positively refused to consent to an Oration. I understood Clara Casey to "^ that Dr. Wiikins was coining to' the Thames that night. x» 0 jfr James: I dont want to rake up vthiiig ill connection with deceased's "hiracter- l co!lsillerecl tu:it after paying ■on I should be under no further respon--51 inspector Hiekson : Did Miss Casey don appeal to the mother to allow the Ration to be performed? The Coroner: It seems only a general thin" The mother appears to have been Gainst the operation all through, pg JAMES CASEY'S EVIDENCE. The next witness called was Mrs Mary Casey, wife °' *-'ai"es Qase.V> residing at Jiofhaines, who being sworn deposed .: — Tlisdeceased .Ellen Casey was my sdster-in-i' y I know ?>1 is Rose O'Brien, matron { the liead police station at Auckland I recollect seeing her on the 2nd f January on the steamer going to the Xort'l Shore, Auckland. I had known Mrs O'Brien previously. On the .steamer t entered into conversation with Mrs O'Brien regarding the stale of the deceased- I asked Mrs O'Brien's advice. I told her Miss Ellen Casey (the deceased) kdcome to see Dr. Wiikins about underpin" an operation for the purpose of a miscarriage. Mrs O'Brien advised me not ( O cro-to Dr. Wiikins. She said she would in) and see Dr. Wiikins herself with a view to preventing the performance of such an operation, i tact Mrs O'Brien the next day *hen she said she had been to see Dr. Wiikins, and she was going to send a teletrain to deceased's mother, who was then at "lie Thames. The telegram was to get the mother to come up to Auckland from the Thames. ladvised Mrs O'Brien not to wire because I was going to take my sister-in-law home. My sister-in-law came home on tlie following day (Tuesday, the 4th of January). I did not know any tiling of the condition of the deceased until after she vent to see Dr. Wiikins. She told me about her state after she had,seen Dr. WilIdns, when she said she had gone to see hJßjtoask him if he could put her under aii operation. She also told me that Dr. Wiikins had ordered her home, and that he would have nothing to do with it. She did not say whether she had seen Dr. Wiikins more than once. She said she had asked Dr. Wiikins what he would charge for the operation, and he replied, "Twenty juineas," but he said he could not put her inder any operation and would have nothing to do with her. This conversation occurred on the day the deceased visited Dr. Wiikins. This was the day before the conversation with Mrs O'Brien—on Saturday, I think. After returning to the Thames 1 saw the deceased again before her death, but had no conversation with her on the subject, Ido not know of any arrangements having been made with Dr. Wiikins to procure a miscarriage, Ihavenot seen him ao the Thames. 1 cannot give any information whatever regarding an alleged operation having been performed upon the deceased by Dr. Wiikins. Neither my mother-in-law, uiy sister-in-law nor my husband have told me anything about it. I toldmy husband about my' conversation with Mrs O'Brien the morning we left Auckland, and the object of his sister's visit to Auckland. I tlien told him his sister (deceased) intended to consult Dr. Wiikins in Auckland about. Jier. condition. My hus'■'band then, told his sister the best thing she ' wldtlo was to come home to her mother. Mr Clendpn : Was that one of the reasons the deceased went to see Dr. Wiikins to learn whether .she was pregnant ? Witness: I don't know. After Dr. Wiikins told deceased that he would not perform any operation, she decided not to tave an operation performed, and came feck to the Thames with me. MrFrater: Why did you go to Auckland with Miss Ellen Casey ? Witness: I went for my holiday, and I thought the deceased went for the same purpose. I did not know her condition until afterwards.

THE MOTHER'S ACCOUNT. Jane Brislin, mother of the deceased,

said that she and the deceased, went to Auckland, their object being to see a doctor. Her daughter intended to ponsnlt Dr..Wilkins. Dr. Wilkins examined her daughter and told witness she was pregnant. She was only a few minutes in the surgery with Dr. Wilkins. So far as witness knew there was no arrangement with Dr. Wilkins to visit the Thames. On the 11th January, Dr. Wilkins came to the louse. Witness implored her daughter not to have anything done to her. The doctor was in the room with her daughter for about 20 minutes. On Wednesday she

aw signs that a miscarriage had taken place. This was the day after Dr. Wilfcins' visit. She did not tell anyone afterfads that Dr. Wilkins had 'killed her daughter.

THAMES, this day. Capt, Farqubar stated that Dr. Wilkins Ms a passenger by the s.s. Wakatere ou fe llth and 12th , Jan nary. Clara Casey, sister of the deceased, said she did not know the nature of her sister's wiiess when.she asked Kiclcl to get brandy. « had since learnt the nature of her tier's.illness, also of Wilkins' visit. Fredk. Jas. Ray stated that he prescribed wdeceased, who complained of headache, constipation, and irregularities. The Medicine he gave deceased would not have •feted the womb at all. He absolutely ™eel that he had given deceaao'd medicine to procure miscarriage.

DR. WILKINS 5 EVIDENCE. Dr. Wilkins, of Auckland, gave evidence w great length. He said deceased called jJP«i him three times in Auckland, to object being to ascertain her condition. He told her she was pregnant early this month. He had come »the Thames in order to see Mrs Honiss professionally, also to see Mr Agnew on ""ungbusiness. Honiss met him at the jajner and told him it would not be adjisab eforhim to visit Mrs Honiss, as it would to unset her, consequently "'went to the Royal Hotel. Afterwards to Agnew's office. Failing to find r there he went for a stroll and accidentally met Miss Casey, who asked him famine her again. He went to her «»thers house and examined her. He „ ; er..Performed any operation upoTi her, top , lle a o'i'ee at any time to do so for ~J& guineas ; indeed from her physical "naition it would have heen impossible to Z r ""laments for the purpose. He reainm ln tlie lloUse about nve Ol" ten tetn a n li e following morning he HonU Aucklaml without seeing Mrs colt 15 c,oncluded the evidence and the »ff. briefly -addressed the jury, after *M\] « Court was cleared in order to ttUle them to consider the verdict.

T[) . THE VERDICT. W»'} Ury retirecl aild returned shortly *cf c.m, °'cl?ck with a verdict to the ■«vij e ' n la^i in accordance with medical tansedl li tleat. h °. f Ellen Casey WIW sive infl^ poisoning, owing to extentoneum n v.llatio. n of tlie nterus and perito s |j " evidence has been produced WorirL" au m*£B>l operation was cCe C!f 01iei";took exception to the latter " 0I the verdict, which he stated

would lead to the inference that the whole scope of the evidence gave proof that there had been no such operation. He did not think it necessary to set out in the verdict what did not take place. A short argument between.the foreman and the coroner followed. The latter said that if the jury insisted on the clause he would have no objection. The jury then retired to reconsider their verdict.

About two o'clock the jury returned with a verdict which was simply the original verdict minus the last clause, viz., " That in accordance with medical testimony the death of the said Ellen Casey was caused by blood poisoning, owing to extensive iniiammation of the uterus and peritoneum, and that death occurred at the Thames on January 19th, 1898." The coroner took exception to the wording of the verdict as to medical evidence, expressing the opinion that the jury had no need to set forth how they arrived' at their conclusion. The amended verdict \va?, however, accepted, and the jury discharged by the coroner at ten minutes past 2 a.m.