WOMAN'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 16

WOMAN'S DEATH

SERIOUS ALLEGATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 5.

An inquest into the death of Catherina Maria Hill, a married woman, of Greymouth, was opened before Mr. F. F. Reid, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning. In conjunction with the inquest Ruebena Shirley, of Alpha Avenue, was charged with unlawfully using an instrument on Catherina Maria Hill. Mr. Sargent appeared for Shirley.

Edward John Hill, commission'agent, of Greymouth, husband of the late Mrs. Hill, said he asked Mrs. Shirley what she would charge to perform an operalion, and she said £15. Witness said he would call on her one day in the following week; The telephone conversation had been at the end of February or the beginning of March. Witness had been worried, but Mrs. Shirley had said. there was nothing to worry about. On Saturday, March 14, witness had come to Christchurch with his wife, and the following day they had gone to Mrs. Shirley's place, where they had discussed the price of an operation.

Witness described what happened at Mrs. Shirley's place, and said that he had given Mrs. Shirley three £5 notes. He then repeated the conversation he had with Mrs. Shirley.

At this stage Chief-Detective Dunlop asked that a provisional order prohibiting publication of the telephone numbers should be made. He said it was his intention to produce certain toll cards. He submitted that they were private documents, and it was only in exceptional cases that they were available.

In objecting to an order, Mr. Sargent said that if granted it meant that the right of the newspapers to publish anything at any time could be stopped. He submitted that the Court had not the power.

The Magistrate said he would make an order in the meantime.

Evidence of what occurred in her nursing home was given by Nurse Roberts, and the medical, evidence of Mrs. Hill's condition when she was admitted to hospital was given by Drs. Knight and McMillan, house surgeons at Christchurch Public Hospital. At her second admission she was suffering I from peritonitis associated with toxaemia. She was gravely ill, sank that night, and died at 10.45 a.m. next day. The Court adjourned until tomorrow morning. Bail was fixed at self £500, with one surety of £500 or two of £250.