A GIRL'S SAD CASE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 112, 7 November 1912, Page 3

A GIRL'S SAD CASE

(BY TELEOBAI'H'-l'ttfiSS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, 6th November. This afternoon an inquest was held into the circumstances surrounding the death of Anhie Read, who masqueraded for the past nine months as a man, and her newly born infant. Concerning the death of the child, the Coroner, after hearing evidence, said there could only be one conclusion— namely, that thu child was born alive and died owing to neglect. At the inquest on the mother, Subtnspector Fouhy made a statement that, prior to deceased's arrival in New Zealand, she had written from Ararat, Victoria, to a man utvmed Thomas Arthur Russell, motor garage proprietor in Invercargill, claiming relationship with him, and signing herself Thomas 'Russell At her request Mr. Russell alranged a passage for her, and she arrived at lv vercargilJ on 22nd January. 1932, in male attire. She told Mr. Russell that she was not a boy nor was she a girl.' Russell got her away from Invercavgill after a few days. Among her belongings were letters signed "Father Peter, which had really been sent to her from Invercargill by Russell. Dr. Fleming stated that he found the woman lying on the floor in a comatose condition, and a newly 'botti child dead beside her. He at o'nee attributed the woman's serious conditioh to puerperal eclampsia, which opinion was later on confirmed. The woman was removed to the hospital, but never rallied, and died at 3 p.m. There were no suspicious circumstances, and deceased would probably not have survived her confinement, no matter what treatment she had received* as she had been a sufferer before from Bright' s disease, which left a tendency to puerperal eclampsia at child- | birth. The Coroner said he could only return I A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. • !