WOMAN’S DEATH

Hawera Star, Volume L, 23 October 1930, Page 5

WOMAN’S DEATH

FURTHER. EVIDENCE TENDERED. REQUEST MADE TO DOCTOR. (By Teiegrapn —rress Association.) WELL! XGBTOX, Oet, 22. Adjourned from September 26 in order that further evidence might be called, the inquest into the death of Inez Rear! Hunt, aged 25, a married woman who was admitted to the Wellington Hospital on September 4 and died six lavs later, was continued to-day. Two witnesses, whose evidence was taken yesterday, were Charles Lintlow Irvine, a carpenter, who had been keeping company with Mrs. Hunt for some time prior to her death, and. Dr. G. R. Cope-Cotton, who ordered the removal to the hospital on the evening of September 4. .Charles Lindo Irving said that he had been living in Wellington about two years and had got to know Mrs. Hunt about three or four months after his arrival. She told witness that she was a married woman living apart from her husband. He had kept company with her from shortly after his arrival in Wellington until the time of her admission to hospital. About two months prior to her admission to the hospital Mrs. Hunt told witness that she had been in a certain condition for two and a-ha'lf months. Witness refused to answer questions with 1 regard to a visit to Brooklyn on the ground that they might incriminate him. He returned to his bach on the dav the woman was admitted to the ' esnital and found her lying on a. bed ■yi a serious condition. She said she 'yvt fallen from a tramcar. _ Oontinuwitness said that he knew that, A r ''s Hunt went to see Dr. Cotton, in Elizabeth Street, on the Monday prior to her admission to the hospital. Witness waited outside, and when Mrs. Hunt came away from the doctor’s ' case she said that the doctor had told her that she had been in the condition mentioned for two months and a-hnlf. After witness had given deceased a rlass of hot water, he said, lie wanted \ • ring for tire doctor, but she told m to ring Nurse, Anderson. He rang Nurse Anderson, asking her if she remembered the young lady who was at her nlace a fortnight or so before. The ’■ use stayed in the bach about three -ir four minutes .and then, on moving out of the house, asked witness to ring the doctor. He summoned Dr. Coti When the doctor arrived! he asked i’n to come in. Nurse Anderson was

• tili in the room where All's. Hunt was. were in the room between five "jel ten minutes. Nurse Anderson oining out first. She asked witness to ring for the ambulance, which lie did. Dr. Cotton said nothing to witness when he came out. Witness accompanied Mrs. Hunt •n the ambulance as far as the Wellington Hospital, where she was admitted 1 ;nder the name of Mrs. Irving. Dr. George Reginald Cope-Cotton said that Airs. Hunt came to see him on September 1, but be had not seen ; • known her previously. She gave the name of Irving. She said she came to > it.ness because she wanted him to do ■■ certain operation. Site told witness that she had been in the condition mentioned for about three months. She said she had been taking drugs, and it ,vas obvious to witness that she was well-nigh (poisoned. (She looked far from well. Witness said that he could not prou..'? the result she sought. He did not examine her, but merely felt her mlse. She said to him: "I’ll do it myVf. then.” She paid him nothing. He a > ouite satisfied to let her go. On •eptember 4 he had an urgent call at (30 mm. to 117 Sydney Street West. -To was met by a man whom lie thought was the previous witness, Irvng. Irving said: “Keep quiet. I. don’t rant anyone to know you are here, ’ ui I then led witness into the bach, vhich was about 25 yards back from the road. On going into the bach witness was astonished to see Nurse Anlorson there. He said : “Hello, nurse, '•< that yonf What- is the trouble here?” to which Nurse Anderson said: “The patient here is supposed to have fallen -off a tram.” . _ “I said.” continued witness, “good f.-1-acious this woman came to see nie| or three days ago. On examination I came to the conclusion that she was in a state or collapse. 1 found some paper and wrote an admission • to the- hospital. I was in the bach rnlv about- seven minutes. Mrs. Hunt’s Jrvilso was 130 and 140. which was alarming, the normal rate being about

r 6.” nv f-e coroner witness said he eoutcl not. tell whether it was possible that -lpr-nsod walked to the bach just prior v-i his coming. She was in a very low •Wo He considered that Alps. Hunt s ’ife might have been saved ; if she had -A-eived immediate attention, but* it would have been a remote chance.