THE DEATH OF JESSIE HOULT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14586, 10 February 1913, Page 3

THE DEATH OF JESSIE HOULT.

INQUEST RESUMED

(pKESS ASSOCIATION TEMEGRAM.>

WELLINGTON, February 9

The inquest on the woman, Jessie Edith Hoult, or Mrs lliclurds, was continued yesterday.

Dr. Woodhouse, acting-medical, superintendent of tho Hospital, said deceased was admitted, at mid-day on 31st January, suffering from burns in the lower portion of the body. Thero were somo bruises on her back. She told him that three weeks previously she had a miscarriage, and that "afterwards sho had used lysol as an injection. That would, said the witness, account for her condition. Sho died on Wednesday night. It was not possiblo to make an absolutely complete examination, owing to her condition, without an anaesthetic, and she might havo died under it. He reported the death to the police about 12.30 on the afternoon of the 6th. At that time ho lwid not given a certificate of death, nor had he instructed anyone else to give a certificate. He told tho police ' he knew tho cause of death, but that it was a. matter for the Coroner, and he would not give a certificate until the Coroner had boon informed. On tho Thursday evening, ho understood that there was not going to be any inquest. Until then, he dkl not give authority to bury the body.

Sergeant ltatfedge said* he had informed the Hospital authorities that an inquest would bo held.

The Coroner: And yet the body gets away.

Dr. Woodhouse: You seem to blame me for something. The Coroner: You gave authority to bury a body in a case which you had already reported to the Coroner, and you got no authority back to bury tho body.

Dr. Woodhouse: Yes. we got tho authority back, as I thought. We got a message from the police which 1 thought to mean there was not to be an inquest, so I gave the certificate. After sorno further evidence had been taken, the Coroner said it seemed there had been some misunderstanding. The inquest was adjourned to allow of investigations to bo made as to where certain medicines in the possession of deceased came from.