THE INQUEST.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 140, 14 December 1881, Page 3

THE INQUEST.

A jury was empannelled, of which Mr. Sisley was foreman. The Coroner said that the jury were called to enquire into a very grievous case. Deceased was at a very advanced age, and her death in some degree was a natural one, but it Beemod at the last there was a report, or anspicion, that she had not Lot been properly cared tor by thoße who ought to nave attended her. The jury were to enquire into the surroundings of the case, and if they came to the conclusion that there had been neglect on the part of those who should have cared for her, whioh in any way accelerated her death, they might bring in a verdict of manslaughter; even if the evidence waa not strong enough for that, they might add a rider whioh would enable the police to take action in the matter. They bad these two courses open to them. The jury then viewed the body, whioh presented a most emaciated appearance, the teet being covered with sores. Tho first witness was Alfred G. Johnson, Relieving Officer for the City of Wellington, he said— l knew the deceased and have known her for many years. She resided in Taranaki-street. I havo s«eu the body and recognise it aa that of Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett. On Monday morning Air. Major, of Taranaki-street, called at my house between 8 and 9 in the morning, and informed me that deceased was lying in a wretched state of destitution at her house in Taranaki-street. jn oonBequence of what he told me I consulted Sergeant Anderson and the Chairman of the Benevolent Institution, and it

was decided to call in Dr. Franco to visit the house and examine the woman. Dr. France, with myself and a girl named Stead, visited the house that morning. Stead had been attending the deceased previously in taking- her food three times a day. After examining deceaßed, Dr. France put several queatioris to her, in order to ascertain whethpr sho recognised him or not. By tho answers Bhe returned she did not do so, reither waa she ab'.o to give expression to h fr wants. Her head, shoulders, and feet were in a disgusting state. She waa lying in a front room on a four-post bed, and was covered with filthily dirty bed clothes. My attention was drawn to her forehead, over which vermin were crawling. At the bedside there waa a chair with two empty jugs on it, which I understood from the girl had contained tea. There was a plate on the chair with a. cold sausage and potato. The room waa in an exceedingly filthy condition, and the stench in it was something horrible. I and Dr. France went to Mr. Major's house and he wrote the certificate which I now produce. [.This was to the effect that it was absolutely necessary to remove her to the Hospital.] A cting on that certificate I went in search of John Barrett, deoeased'B eoa, who lived in the house with her. I met him in Martin-street, and I and Dr. France pointed out the necessity there was for the immediate removal of his mother to the Hospital. He replied she waa all right, and questioned my right to interfere in the matter. The oondition of her bed clothes was stated to him, when he replied that there was plenty of everything in the house, and that Dr. Cole had attended her abont six weeks before. He refused to have her moved, when I told him I wonld take other steps. Under pressure from me he at last said he would remove her to the Hospital. He wanted to get the certificate, which I refused. I suggested to him that he should get Hntchen'a covered express, bo that deceased might be removed properly by lifting bed and all, and keeping her in a horizontal position. He refused to do bo, saying that if he kad to move her, he would move her in «. cab. I told him that I would be at hia house at 3 o'clook in the afternoon, and he was to have the cab ready. At that hour a cab came, and deceased was put into it, brought to the Hospital, and given over to the Hospital authorities. I received a note yesterday from Dr. Gillon. stating that Bhe had died on the night of her admission. I gave information to the police respecting her death, and the circumstances of the case. Dr. France corroborated the evidence cf the previous witness aB to visiting the deceased, and the condition in which he foirnd her. He had known the deceased for over 20 yeara, and her age wa3 83. She lived with her son in Taranaki-street, and there was no one eke living in the house, so her son had sola charge of her. When witness saw her she was perfectly helpless, and appeared to be quite imbecile. All she said waa —"Don't think me lazy, doctor," and ahe repeated this several timea. That waß all Bhe said. Her oondition waa ss filthy that it was impossible to make a thorough examination of her, bat her pulse was strong—about 76. The food by her aide was utterly unfit for a person of her age and condition. Witness reoommended that deceased should be removed to the Hospital in Hutohena' express, in order that she need not be removed from her mattre3s. The remainder of witneaa' evidence as to the conduct of the son was identical with that of Mr. Johnson. In reply to Sergeant Anderson, witness eaid the room was dirty and foul in the extreme, as also th« bed clothes. The deceaaed required good nursing, proper food, and cleanliness, which she had not had. Indeed, there was an entire absence of all theso. He had no doubt whatever that the want of proner oare would accelerate the death of an old woman such as deceased. In reply to the Coroner, witness said that the mode of removal in a cab to the Hospital, in the oondition deceased was, would accelerate her death. Dr. Gillon, houße surgeon to the Hospital, proved the admission of deceased on Monday afternoon, when she was immediately attended to. He described the condition ahe waa in; she waß suffering from bed-sores through lying long in bed. She waa sensible, and we nted to go home. She had signs of ohronio heart disease, and her lunga were affected. Her body was fairly nourished. She died at 11.15 p.m., seven hours after admission. A post mortem examination confirmed hia diagnosis, all the internal organs being diseased. Death, in witness' opinion, was caused by syncope, the ießult of heart disease. In reply to Sergeant Anderson, witness waa of opinion that she had not received proper attention and nursing outside, and want of that accelerated her death. Deceased ought to have been removed in a horizontal position, and conveyed slowly. The horizontal position in a cab would increase the danger of her removal. Edwin Major, tailor, living in Taranakisireet, proved that he had known deceased for nine yeara. She had been confined to her bed for some weeks. Owing to the state Bho was in, witness communicated with the Relieving Offioer. During the time deceased was ill witness sent over food by hia Bervant. Her son attended to her now and then, as well as he knew how, and had medical attendance for her. Deoeased waa peculiar, and opposed to anyone visiting her. Witness had spoken several times to John Barrett about the condition of his mother, and he said that he had tried to get someone, but she objected to having anyone. Witness did not see John Barrett oh Sunday at the house, and aa he did not appear on Monday witness gave information to Mr. Johnton. In reply to Sergeant Anderson, witness said that the house and land in which the deceased lived waa her own freehold. He gave four years ago J8225 for half of the section. It was paid in instalments, sometimes to the deceased and sometimes to her son by her authority. He belioved that the house was mortgaged recently. John Barrett was a carpenter, but rarely did any work, and was ot" drunken habits. Elizabeth Stead, eervaut to tho previous witness, who took food to deceased two or three timea a day, corroborated the evidence of the other witnesses as to the dirty and neglected oondition in whioh deceased was. After some further evidenca the Coroner summed np. The Coroner enquired if John Barrett had any statement to make, to whioh he replied that Mb mother had never wanted for anything, and that he always kept plenty in the house. She waa an eccentric woman, and would not allow anyone near her. That waa all he had to say. The jury, after some deliberation, returned the following verdiot: —"That the deceased died from Natural Causes, viz., heart disease," but added the following rider: — " That the jury are of opinion that there was gross negligence on the part of John Barrett, th«Bon of deceased, in allowing his mother to remain without proper attendance and necessary comforts for so long a period preceding her death."

When a young man wants to protect a young lady, he naturally pnta hiß armour round her.