A CASE OF POISONING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1903, Page 5

A CASE OF POISONING.

WOMAN'S SAD END

THE HUSBAND CENSURED,

A very sad case was investigated yesterday afternoon by the Coroner, Mr. Greshain, who held an inquest at the Freeman's Hotel touching the death of Ada Elizabeth Rush, a young married woman residing in. Sale street, who died on Monday morning.

Mrs. Honey Wright was the first witness. She stated that she and her husband lived in the same house with Mr. and Mis. Rush. On. Saturday fortnight deceased informed her that if. her husband wont out she would do away with herself. Deceased said her husband wanted to go to the play. Deceased informed witness that her husband at no time gave her more than £ 1 0/ per week, and she complained that the amount was not sufficient to keep her and her children. Deceased complained that her- husband spent his earnings in drink. She was a good wife, and tried to keep her home well. Witness told the husband that deceased threatened to take her life if he. wont to the play that night. He replied that his wife was joking. Witness said that Rush used to get drimk. on Sat-i urdiiy nights with the exception of last Saturday. On other nights he sometimes caiiic home "tipsy," and sometimes sober.

Dr. lnglis deposed that he had known the deceased for about a year, and had attended her. On -Inly lOtli he attended deceased for a miscarriage. She did not complain to him of her husband's conduct. He saw her on Saturday, and again on Monday morning, when she was unconscious and suffering froni opiumpoisoning. He noticed in the room a bottle which had contained a laudanum solution, which he had supplied to her. He had warned deceased of its poisonous nature. Witness applied the usual remedies, but deceased died at a few minutes to eleven. Jlic was quite satisfied that death was due to opium poisoning, and consequently did not make a post mortem examination. When he last saw deceased she was. he considered, in a right state of mind. ITe received a telephone message on Sunday night saying that Mrs. Hush 'mil had m fit. He was attending to patients at his house at the time, and explained that he could not do anything for her if she was in a fit, but that if she grew worse he was to be scut for. He was not informed that the case was an urgent ont\

Elizabeth McManus, a neighbour, said that on Monday morning deceased's husband called on her and asked her to go and attend to his wife until the doctor came. He said he thought his wife had had a fit, and was sleeping it off. Witness wont and saw deceased, who seemed as if she was sleeping off a fit. Witness had heard deceased lately threaten to take her life, owing to the pain she had suffered. > Daniel Rush, husband of deceased, said he did not deny drinking, which" had been brought on by trouble. He admitted thiU; his wife did not wish him to go to the play on the occasion mentioned, but he said that his wife did not threaten to make away with herself, if ho wont to the play. He had promised to go with a friend that night. His wife went to sleep about five o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and woke again between seven and eight. She went asleep again then, and was asleep in the morning. Witness did not think she was suffering from anything more than a fit-, to which she was subject, aiul he went to work, calling in Mrs. McManus before he wont. She had never threatened to him to take her life. TTis wages were £2 per week. Louis Wirvjht deposed that on Saturday fortnight deceased threatened to take, hor life, because he.r husband went to the play. Witness knew that Rush did not furnish his wife with money io get the necessaries of lifo. Witness had reproached him for drinking. On the Sunday night Rush sent witness' son to telephone for tho doctor.

The jury, affor n short deliberation, returned a verdict that donth was dup to laudanum poisoning, self-admini-siered. while deceased was '-temporarily insane, nnd added a rider reflpctir-ff/ upon her husband's conduct towards her.