CORONER'S INQUEST.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3926, 23 March 1870, Page 4

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesteeday afternoon the District Coroner, Dr. Philson, conducted an inquiry into the cause of death of one called Mary Maria Ijangley, a widow, who had died suddenly the previous evening at her residence in William- street, off Wellington-street, I A jury was sworn in, who elected Mr. G-. Dickaon to be their foreman. After viewing the body they went to the Wellington Hotel, where the following c v donee was placed before them :—: — Mary McKonna, wife of Thomas McKenna, tailor, William-street, off Wellington-street, deposed that she had been acquainted with deceased for the last 12 months, being her next-door neighbour. The first time witness saw deceased the previous day was about 10 a.m. Did not see her again tdl G o'clock m the evening, when she complained of her head aching. Witness then went into the house of deceased, who was standing on the floor at the time witness entered. No one else was in the house at this time. Witness asked deceased what was the matter with her ; she answered something like the shot of a pistol had gone through her head, and that she thought she was going into a fit. Witness did a few things about the house for her, while deceased lay down on the bed, without undressing. She would not take any wine which witness offered to get for her, say ng she felt so very sick. Witness went out, saying that she would call again, but, hearing deceased breathing heavily, witness returned immediately. On returning, witness saw deceased lying on the bed ; her handi were clenched, and thei c was froth coming from her mouth, her face being quite black, and she seemed to be snoring very heavily. Witness immediately called her husband, who went in, while witness ran off for Dr. Bayntun, who immediately accompanied witness to the house. Was not present while the doctor was in the room, having gone to fetch deceased's son. It was about a quarter to eight o'clock when Witness returned, and at this time deceased was lying dead on the bed, the doctor still being there. — To the Coroner : Deceased kept to herself very much, and I could not say whether or not she was a Bober person. I knew her once or twice to take liquor — about a month ago being the last time since I saw her in liquor, at which time she vomited a great deal, recovering the next day. She was a stout woman ; was a widow and lived by herself. She was generally healthy. I have heard her complain of the headache, and also complain of the liver. — Francis Thomas Bayntun, residing in Wel-lington-street, member of the College of Surgeons, England, and duly registered as a, New Zealand medical practitioner, deposed : I never aaw deceased before I was called to her by the last witness, about half-past seven o'clock on Monday evening. On reaching the house I found deceased lying on the bed. Her face and neck were almost black. Her breathing was laboured. There was a frothy saliva issuing from her mouth. Her eyea were fixed, the pupils being dilated. The surface of the body was cold ; no convulsions. She was perfectly insensible, and could not be roused. Her pulse was very weak and alow ; stomach and bowels appeared to be loaded. On putting my head down to her face I could detect the smell of liquor. After throwing cold water on her head and face, I endeavoured to give her an emetic of mustard and water, but she was unable to swallow it, and in two or three minutes afterwards she expired. This waa about fourteen minutes after my arrival. There were two persons present — Mr. MoKenna and Mrs. Allen, a nurse, I thought the attack was a fit of apoplexy, to which she wrb predisposed by her full habit of body j her head was large, her neok being very short. The immediate cause of deatfi must have been * bunting of ft blood.vesial on the brain. I should not think there was any neoessity for a post-mortem examina. tion, I could not positively say that she had taken liquor to oxo«ss,— To a Juror t Under the circumstances I considered tm inqueit neceiiftvy, u X knew nothing of her before, and it was so short a time from the time I first saw h#r to her death. There was no sign of liquor m the room ; it was clean and orderly. — Clara Brannigan, whose husband is a mariner, corroborated the evidence, giving a few additions. — To the Coroner : I have often heard deceased complain of her head. I should judge her to be about 45 years of age. She was supported by her children. — The jury did not wish for further evidence, but returned a verdict of "Died by the visitation of God, the immediate cause of death being jipoplexy,"