FATALITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 9154, 8 June 1893, Page 2

FATALITIES.

The inspector of police received a telegram to-day intimating that Isabella Aiteheson, aged 17i years, daughter of a farmer at Heriot, died Buadehly yesterday after giving birth to a female child. Dr De Lautour, of Tapanui, was sent for about two hours before the girl's death, but she died* before he arrived. CHRISTCHURCH, June 8. Neil Stevens, who was received into the hospital on 30th May suffering from injuries through tlie collapse of a bridge over which he w,as driving a traction engine near Taitapu, died to-day. WELLINGTON, Jpke 8. The inquest on Mrs Atkinson did not terminate till just before midnight. William Evans, who was cook on Mr Fitohett's farm, said that deceased told him the blow was given by a woman in the house, and he understood her to mean Mrs Willis. Deceased appeared to ne on bad terms with her, and had frequently said that she was frightened of Mrs Willis. He had examined a stick left in the kitchen, but found no blood on it. The housemaid at the Imperial and the man who accompanied deceased home said she appeared to be nervous, ami justbefore reaching the house talked curiously, as though affected by drink, but Bhe recovered herself. Dr Chappie said that Mrs Atkinson, when she became unable to speak, wrote in a memorandum book. He had made some extracts, one of which was to the eii'ect ''that a'woman struck me." He had put the book away carefully with his notes, and requested that it should not be touched ; but on his return he found it gone, though the notes were still there. The woman would not .have died had the wound been, attended to early. The Wound coincided with irregularities on the kitchen floor, ami his opinion, after careful examination was, that it was the result.of a fall. Mrs Marion Willis, who showed her right hand, from which the thumb had been amputated, denied having seen the deceased from the Monday till the Wednesday. There had been some ill-feeling between them, as deceased tried to prejudice her against Miss Fitchett, but they afterwards became good friends. An open verdict was returned. The police are satisfied that there was no foul play. The doctor's evidence is considered conclusive that the death was accidental, and no further steps are likely to betaken. The woman Willis is crippled in her right hand, and the police say that it was impossible that she could have inflicted such a blow.