Sudden Death.

Hastings Standard, Issue 514, 31 December 1897, Page 4

Sudden Death.

A mamed woman named Annie .-Springgay, whose husband is at present working at Gisborne, was found dead in her house in Hardinge road, Port Ahuriri, yesterday afternoon. She had been unwell for some time, though .a medical man had not been attending on her of late. THE IXtiUKST. An inquest was held last night at the London Hotel, Spit, before Mr J. S. Large, J.P., deputy-coroner, and a jury of whom Mr M. Rolls was chosen foreman. Constable Baskiville conducted on behalf of the police. Dr. Menzies, senr., deposed that he made a }n>*t umrteiii examination on the body of deceased, in conjunction with Dr." Menzies, jun. He found the thoracic and abdominal viscera were in a state of inflammation ; the valyes of the heart were non-effective. He at-" tributed the attack to the diseased state of the heart and general inclination of an influenza character. Henry King, residing at the Spit, deposed he lived near to the deceased, whom he knew well. Last saw her alive between 8 and 4 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. Saw her come out to a vegetable cart; she eat an apricot while she stood there. Used to see her frequently, and always thought she was in good health. Ivate O'Connor, residing in Ilard-inge-road, next door to the deceased, deposed she last saw deceased alive on Wednesday morning, about 10 o'clock. Spoke to her, deceased saying she was not feeling well. Not seeing her about yesterday knocked at the door at 2 p.m., and getting no reply called Mr Rolls, jun., who was passing at the time. Asked him to go in and see if he could see Mrs Springgay about. He went in and found deceased lying in her bedroom dead. Knew deceased lived alone, her husband being away working at Gisborne. M. Rolls, jun., deposed that he was delivering bread in Hardinge road at 2 p.m. yesterday, when Mrs O'Connor beckoned to him, asking him to go into Mrs Springgay's to see if she were "ut. He did so, and found deceased in a sitting position leaning on the bed. Felt her hand, finding it cold and stiff, and knew she was dead. Then reported the matter to the police. Constable Baskiville deposed that when he was called in the deceased must have been dead about fourteen hours. No doctor had been attending the deceased recently. The jury returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes."— Herald. ___________