INQUET.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9520, 12 September 1896, Page 4

INQUET.

An inquest was hold at tho Hospital al 4.30 p.m. yesterday, concerning the death of Hannah Elizabeth Partridge, the wife of M. Albert Partridge, accountant at Messrs G. McClatchie and Co. Mr R. Beetham was Coroner, and Mr H. Hepburn, foreman of the jury. Evidence was given by Drs. Jennings and Fox, Albert Partridgo (husband of deceased), Mary Ann Pope, Dora Piper, and Annie Dilworth, from which it appeared that deceased, though a fairly strong woman, was very nervous. Her home duties and attention to her three children—one a baby—who had suffered from influenza, had produced melancholia, and Dr. Jennings ordered her complete rest for a time, She WW on Friday, 4th, placed in tho nursing home of Mrs Pope for rest and watchful attend* ance, and Mrs Pope was instructed as to ths possibility of the patient developing suicidal mania. Mr Partridge stayed with hia wife and baby in tho evenings, and during the day they were attended chiefly by Nurse Dilworth and Probationer Piper, and the patient was frequently visited by Dr. Jennings. In a few days her mind ftp* peared to regain its tone, and on the morn, ing of the accident she seemed herself, but the doctor informed Mrs Pope that she did not appear quite fit to be trusted. On ths morning of Thursday, after the doctor had gone, Probationer Piper and Nurse Dilworth were in the room several times before tho occurrence. The former gave the deceased her luncheon, saw her prepare to go to sleep, and then took away tne tray. She would be away some five minutes when tha heard a noise in Mrs Partridge's room, to which she hurried, followed by Nurses Pops and Dilworth, the deceased was on the rug in front of a small fire of embers, and her nightdress was on fire. The probationer removed the baby from tho room, and the nurses wrapped the rug and blankets round the deceased to put out the lire. White, doing this she talked a lot, and said she did not blame them, because she had waited her chance. Dr. Jennings was at once called in. He injected morphia and administered chloroform, under the influence of wJdoh she was taken to the Hospital about 1.30 p.m., where she died at 5.20 p.m. '.The Jury, after a short retirement, returned a verdict " That deceased died from the results of the injuries received by her dress taking fire, and that every care had been exercised by Mrs Pope and her nursing staff."