SERIOUS ALLEGATION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 288, 5 September 1928, Page 3

SERIOUS ALLEGATION

DEATH OF YOUNG WOMAN FINDING AT THE INQUEST An inquest was held yesterday by the Coroner (Mr. E. Page, S.M.) into the death of Adrienne Mary Stouppe, a singlc woman, aged 20, who resided at -o Jackson Street, Island Bay, and who died at the Wellington Hospital on August 10. Chief-Detective Ward conducted the inquest. Dr. Sydney D. Rhind said he was called to the hospital at 8 p m. on August S to see deceased, whom he found extremely ill and with evidence of acute generalised peretonitis. She had also recently had a miscarriage, and her only chance was an immediate operation. Ims was performed an hour later, phe was given a general anaesthetic. Next nay her general condition was slightly improved, but in the early hours of the morning on August 10 she sank and died To Chief-Detective Ward witness stated that he was unable to say whether any instrument had been used or not. In taking deceased history witness elicited the information that “she had received interference twice.” Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist to the Wellington Hospital, said that he had conducted a post-mortem examination ot the body of deceased and had concluded that death was due to pyaemia following septic abortion. He could not say whether an instrument had been used. Pyaemia, added Dr. Lynch, was severe septicaemia with abscesses in distant oigans. . _ The Mother’s Evidence. Evidence was given by Charlotte Stouppe, mother of deceased, who stated her daughter had been employed, as a typist for the past two years. Io witness’s knowledge deceased was not keeping company with any man. About two months ago deceased received medical treatment for her nerves. On August 1 deceased left home for her work and told witness she was going to Waikanae for a ten days’ rest. .Wituess had. no

idea her daughter was pregnant. Deceased returned home on August 8 acCQmpanied by a man whom witness did not see. Witness stated her daughter appeared very ill, so much so that she rang for Dr. Clay, who on arrival ordered her removal to the hospital. Her daughter would not say where she had been or tell who was responsible for lier condition or who had caused the miscarriage. Dr. D. L. Clay, who examined deceased on August 8, said he found her extremely ill,, and suffering from septicaemea with peritonitis. He found that recently she had had an abortion. He immediately ordered her removal to the Public Hospital. Deceased had told him who had caused the abortion. 2\sked to give the name, Dr. Clay declined. The Coroner: I think you ought to . answer it, Dr. Clay. Witness: I asked her who had caused the miscarriage, and she said: “You can guess, can’t you?” I told her that I could not guess, and she said, “Dr. Hennessy.” She did not say when she went to Dr. Hennessy’s, 2or who was responsible for her pregnancy. Witness added, reluctantly, that deceased had told him that she had been to Dr. Hennessy’s place for the week-end. John Henry Weaver, a taxi-driver, who drove deceased home on August 8, saui he could not recognise the man who had engaged him. She stepped out of an Essex touring car in Courtenay 1 lace into his taxi. She looked very ill. He did not recognise Ralph Wear, who was in Court, as the man. Ralph Heaton Wear, an engineer, married, residing at Lyall Bay, said he was on friendly terms with deceased as ' Vl tn other members of the firm at which ne and deceased were employed. His nrm ‘ had an Essex conch, but be was not driving it on August S. IJeyond driving deceased part of the way home on diirilercnt occasions, he bad not taken her out. On the submission of Mr. O. C. Mnzengarb. who appeared to protect the interests of people whom the police had interviewed, mid against whom criminal proceedings might possibly bo taken, and with the Coroner's concurrence, witness declined to state whether he saw deceased on August 8. He admitted going to Waikanae on August 8, but refused to say whether, Y-hen there, he received a telegram. He denied ever having gone to see Dr. • Hennessy or to supplying deceased with money. Ho emphatically denied that he was responsible for deceased’s pregnancy. He did not know deceased was pregnant. Detective W. HleLcnnan said that when interviewed by him at the hospital, deceased said she had nothing to say about

X O, on b ber n ls I ’^° e r d!d d notW tTglt anyone else into trouble. she had not been to although telegrams were sent as from her to the Tn h ow a wbe°r U e e decealed ™ E£»die^^ 8 CUS Coroner’s Finding. “Tho evidence in this case shows that B nd and) S g USt to B ’he h r e own statement it was nrnfliiced bv Dr. Hennessy, bepsis lowed, and the girl notwithstanding sur . Si Tl,'e t fin a din an was an to ?he effort that deceased died on August 10, 1928, death being caused by pyaemia following a septic abortion criminalyl produced.