AN OPEN VERDICT

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 112, 8 November 1920, Page 8

AN OPEN VERDICT

Further evidence regarding the sudden death of Mrs. Margaret Annie Workman, a widow, 40 years of age, at a house in Mount-street, on 19th October, was heard by the Coroner, Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., to-day. Dr. Pattie stated that he was called in on the evening of 19th October, and found the deceased lying dead in bed. Mrs. Gard Wilkins, the occupier of the house, did not appear to know anything of deceased prior to her going to the house. Witness told the woman that he would have to communicate with the police and she asked him not to do so! Dr. C. M. Hector, who had made a post-mor-tem examination of the deceased, said that he considered that the deceased had suffered a miscarriage, which was followed by general septicaemia, which was the cause of death. There was nothing to show whether the miscarriage was natural or had been brought about by artificial means. Mary Ann Gard Willins, formerly a professional nurse, said that she conducted an apartment house at Mountstreet. Deceased applied for a room on 12th October. The, womali complained, that she was just recovering from an attack of influenza, and lated confided in witness that she had had a miscarriage. She went about as usual till the 17th, when she complained of feeling very ill, but witness did not summon a doctor, as deceased was insistent that she should onot do so. On the evening of 19th October, deceased collapsed, and Dr. Pattie was' summoned, but the woman died before his "arrival. The Coroner returned an open verdict, that the deceased died from septicaemia, following a miscarriage, there being no evidence to show, whether the miscarriage was natural or artificially, induced.