Strange Death.

Hastings Standard, Issue 511, 28 December 1897, Page 2

Strange Death.

OF A YOUNG WOMAN

(By Telegraph.)

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, This day

A death which seems to be surrounded with some peculiar circumstances took place at a private hospital 011 Christmas night. It appears that a young woman twenty-four years of age named Susan Harriet Campbell McCallum, whose father is stated to be harbor-master at Port Chalmers, was admitted to the institution on Wednesday last on the recommendation of Dr. Orpen, who also, it is said, attended her two or three times after her admission. On Christmas Eve she apparently thought herself near death and desired to make a dying declaration. The authorities of the institution endeavored to procure a Justice of the Peace in the district, but were unable to do so. They appealed to a Justice of the Peace of another district, who came and took the young woman's statement. At an early hour on Christmas morning she died. On the evening of the same day, having expressed. as her last wish, that her body should be sent to Port Chalmers, the authorities of the institution, asked Mr Little, undertaker, to remove :Isa body and ship the remains south. I The body was accordingly removed. ' Un Sunday Mr Little took steps to j obtain a death certificate, but was unable to do so. While he was 1 making further enquiries the police i authorities interposed and t rohibitcd | tiio interment or removal of the body, i landing a coroner's inquest. Mr ; Little has embalmed the body. The | inquest has been fixed for to-morrow i av JO tfctaek.