DEATH OF A MAORI WOMAN.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 86, 12 April 1894, Page 2

DEATH OF A MAORI WOMAN.

♦ INQUEST AT PETONE. A MILD NATIVE TROUBLE. Lieut -Colonel 31' I?onnell, Deputy-Coroner, proceeded yesterday morning to Petone for the purpose of holding an inquest upon tho body of a Maori woman named Wikitoria Rcumana, who died on ilonday in giving birth to a child. When the Deputy- Coroner and Inspector Pender arrived, they found that all the Maoris for some miles around were assembled, and were holding a tangi. Ihsy were sullen in their manner, and at first would scarcely retnrn the salutations of Colonel M'Donnell, who was personally known to them. Prior to this Dr. Tripe, actintr upon the instructions of the Deputy Coroner, had vainly attempted to gain admittance to the honse in which the deceased lay, with a view to holding a post morUm examination. The_ t'rionds of the deceased had placed ' be body in a coffin, which they had locked up in a hut along with her husband and several wahines. her immediate rnlitive3. The natives at the pah, positively refused the doctor permission to view the body, alleging as a reason that the woman waa dead and therefore no doctor on earth could do her any good. Dr". Tripe pointed out that his duty wa3 to make an autopsy, but this only made matters worse. The Maoris grew still more excited, and became even threatening in their behaviour to the doctor, who, seeing that it was useless to pursue his mission, gave up any further attempt, aud waited quietly till the arrival of the Deputy ' oroner. Lieut -Col. M'Donnell explained in Maori the object of his visit, and told the natives it did not necessarily follow that the body would need to be dissected,' but it would have to be given up in order that Dr. Tripe might I determine whothcr that would be desirable or not. Th 9 Maoris said they would not give the body up, nor would they allow the Coroner or any pakeb* to go into the house where it was. Inspector Pender next explained tho position, and told the natives that they would have to allow the law to take ita course, precisely in tho same manner as white people would havo to obey tho law under similar circumstances. But nothing thit Inspector Ponder could say had any effect upon the sullon natives, for they iidhcrod to their dcterminat on not to unlock the doors of tho hut in which po9r Victoria's remains lay '1 ho Coroner, seein>» that it was useless to further temporise, pulled out his watch, and looking at it inlormed the Maoris that if tho door of the house was not unlocked in ten minutes he would order tho police_to burst it open. This tlireat had the desired effect, for within five minntes the door was opened and tho official party wero allowed access. But there the Coroner experienced another check, as on proceeding to the door of the room in which tho rody lay, they found it fastened against them, and the women who were sitting « ith tho dead waliine positively refused to unlock. The police unscrewed the lock, and without ceremony threw the door open. This waa tho signal for the Maoris, b >th inaido the wharo and ouUido, to set up dismal and terrible chrieks and yella. One womiri who hal been watching tho body rnshed at Dr. Tripe and endeivomred to snatch hii bag of instruments, whilst another infuriated old woman niado a rush at Lieut. -Colonol M'Donnell. However," after a wbilo the Coroner again addressed the natives in their own tongue, and pointed out folly of their ponduct. Ho was quite firm, however, and gave them to understand that the law would take its course. The Maoris after a time yielded, and the coffin was ujsorcwed. It was then decided that a post mortem examination would not be necessary, and the remains having been viewed by the jury, tho lid of tbe ooffin was again screwed down. Though the Petone Maoris were obstinate, and aeemed at first determined to oppose the representatives of the law, neither Colonel M'Donnell nor Inspector Pender believes that they intended any actual vio'ence. Their opposition was mere bravado, aud probably arose out of an idea that by defying the law they wore showing respect to the memory of the dead woman. THE EVIDENCE. The Acting-Coroner held tho inquest in Victoria Hotel, Petone, Mr. Caleb Edmonds being foreman of the jury. Inspector Pender was present, and Mr. Skerrett watched the proceedings on behalf of Dr. Lamb. Mateno Warena deposed that ho went to " the doctor's " honse on Saturday last about 5 p.m., when he saw a woman whom he told that he wanted the doctor to come and attend his sistor. The woman told witness that tho doctor was getting roa-ly to come immediately, and that it waa not becauso there wa3 no money that tho doctor would not come, but beca-U'O another medical man had the case. Witness then left. Dr. Scanln.ii had been in attendunce, but said he could do nothing further uulois he get more medical assistance, and that was why witness went to the other doctor. To Mr. Skerrett — Dr. Lamb came somo time afterwards. Hone Rebiinana deposed that about 5.30 on Friday evening he went to Dr. Whitehead's placo, and was informed that Dr. Whitchead had left word not to attend to any native except they put the money down. Witness then went away. ~Bj Mr. Skorrott — Dr. Lamb told him there was anothor doctor, viz., Dr. Scanlon. VVi Tauhei, husband of tho deceased, gave evidenco that ho went to Dr. Scanlan on Saturday morning and told him his wife was very ill. Dr. Scanlan said— " Our custom is noyer to attend on any person unless we get paid first. This is our custom." Witness replied, " Money is nothing ; I wish you to come and^see my wife. I will pay you for your Borvices." The dootor said, "How long will it be before you pay me?" and witness replied that it would not be long. Then the doctor oame and examined witness' wife. Hone Warona stated that Dr. Scanlan performed an operation on the deceased on Saturday, but was not successful in his efforts. Later in the day he performed a second operation, but this also was not successful. Dr. Scanlan said to witness he could have saved both the mother and child if ho had beon called in on the Friday, but that then (Saturday) it was impossible to save tho woman. By a juryman — Dr. Scanlan told witness he had asked Dr. Lamb to come and assist him, but he refused to do so. By Mr. Skorrett— Dr. Soanlon came about 9 a.m. He gave VVikitoria some chloroform and used an instrument. He remained with tho woman till about 1 pm. Dr. Lamb came at 6 p.m., and tho child was born at 10 p.m. Mrs. I. Rolfe said she was a nurse, and saw Wikitoria about 7 o'clock on Saturday evening. Dr. Lamb was sent for, and came in about half an hour. By Mr. Skerrett — Dr. Lamb was unremitting in his attention to the woman. Dr. Scanlan deposed that a Maori called to Boe him about 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, and told him his services were required for a Maori woman. Witness Baid he believed it was customary to receive payment in advanco from Maoris, and the man paid he could not pay just then, bnt promised to do so. On arriving at the hoaso he was told the woman had been bad since Friday, when they bad sont for Dr. Whitehead, but that he was not at home, and the dootor who was taking his place refused to go withont money in advance. After operating unsuccessfully on the woman for some time, he asked a man named Jack Warren if he could not possibly get anothor dootoi-, as ho thought he could not succeed without ono. In any case, he said, he was too oxhausted to go on any further, so he crossed over to the constable's house. It was then between 3 and 4 p.m , and Bhortly afterwarda, at Warren's request, he returned, but was again unsuccessful. Jack Warren then guaranteed that he would pay Dr. Lamb's fee if witness would go for him, and witness accordingly left for that pnrpose. Dr. Lamb said he had instructions not to attend any Maoris without being paid in advance, and as they had not paid him he had refused to go. Witness told him the Maoris now guaranteed payment, and that Constable Lyster would also go bail for them . He refused to go. Witness said, "Itis a case of life or death— a case for long forceps, whioh I caunot do alone, and if yon do not assist mo the woman must die." Witness also said, " Looking at the matter from only a humane point of viow, surely you will not refuse to come ! It ia a p.ty that any petty matter of personal piquo between Dr. Whitshead and myself should be allowed to interpose in the matter." Dr. Lamb asked witneaa to wait for a few minutes and he would give him a reply, and when he returned he said, '"My instructions are not to go." Witness then said he should return home, as he could not aid the woman withont assistance. It was useless for him to return, she must die, as he (Dr. Lamb) would not go. Witness then went home. By a juryman — If he had hod an efficient nurse he might have saved the woman's life, or had ho been called sooner he might have saved both mother and child. By Mr. Skerrett— The fact that the child was dead increased rather than diminished the difficulty of the operation. Dr. Tripe said be had not in his examination of the deceased discovered any symptoms of improper treatment. He was a little nurprised that Dr. Soanlan did not have long forceps. Dr. Lamb gave evidence that on Friday a Maori asked him to attend his sistor. \\ itnesa told him he wonld if he were prepaid two guineas. About 6 pm. on Saturday Dr. Scanlan oalled upon him and Baid if witness wonld not go with him he would leave the case. Dr. Soanlan also said he would not go near Dr. Purdy, or words to that effect. Witness told him his instructions were that he wbb not to go, and Dr. Scanlan then left. Witness finished his dinner hurriedly and went to the pah. He delivered the woman, and attended her twice on Sunday. He heard of her death on Monday morning. He did not think there was any necessity for two medical men. It was qnt of plaoe and impoßßible to effect delivery with short forceps. Witness thought death waa due to exhaustion and shock to the system. The jury after deliberation returned the following verdict :— " That deceased met her death from exhaustion and shock to the system, owing to protracted labour; that neither of the medical men was to blame for the death of the woman ; that it was a pity Dr. Lamb did not go when called upon on Friday ; and that Dr. Scanlan was wrong in not being provided with proper instruments, and waa wrong in throwing up the case on Saturday evening."