The Auckland Sensation.

Hastings Standard, Issue 514, 31 December 1897, Page 2

The Auckland Sensation.

INQUEST CONTINUE],). [By Teliwraph.] Auckland, Dec,^so. The inquest on the woman MeCallum was continued. » Cornelius Little, undertaker anil embalmer, Hobson-streefc, stated he saw the body of deceased at 12 o'clock on Christmas night. Nurse Ogilive instructed him. He went to the nujrsing home in Hepburn-street and received the body. The nurse explained that a patient of Dr. Orpen'a had died, and deceased had expressed a wish to be sent to Dunedin. Nurse said it would be advisable to embalm the body, and for that purpose asked if he could remove the body immediately, as signs of decomposition were already appearing. He removed the body. He asked for particulars for registration of death, and got them. On arrival at his place he immediately embalmed the body, but could not find Dr. orpen or get a death certificate. Miss; Ogilvie told him peritonitis was the cause of death. She said something about a statement being made and theigirl expressed a wish to be sent to Dunedin. He knew nothing then about any suspicious circumstance attending her death. When he began to embalm the body he thought from the appearance of the body there was something more than peritonitis to cause death. For that reason he did uut touch the abdomen at all prior to the constable informing him an inquest "Would be held. Nothing had come to hjis knowledge that would lead himj to give information to the police. -If Constable Nicholson had not com f e to his place he would have inforjmed the police in consequence of information he got from his daughter. I)r Bakewell informed him that the embalming of the body had assisted him materially in performing the post viorh'in as it saved the body from decomposition. Inspector Hickson said this concluded all the evidence he had to offer. One of the jurors said he ivould like Dr Bakewell re-called so that he could be asked to give his opinion as to the operation performed on deceased at the nursing home by Dr Purchas. Dr Scott had already given bis opinion on it, and said he thought Dr Purehas's operation had nothing whatever to do with the girl's death, The Coroner agreed to re-call Di" Bakewell to-morrow mornitig on this point. The inquest was adjourned till tomorrow morning. The Coroner issued a certificate for the removal of the body.