ELDERLY WOMAN’S DEATH

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 4 November 1933, Page 9

ELDERLY WOMAN’S DEATH

DISCOVERY AT NORMANSY. EVIDENCE HEARD AT INQUEST. After hearing evidence in the flawera Magistrate’s Courthouse this morning the district coroner (Mr R. S. Sage) returned a verdict that the death of Mrs Selina Stuart at Normanby on November 2 was due to fatty degeneration of the heart precipitated by a bronchial condition' of the lungs and cirrhosis of tlie liver. Deceased, who had been twice widowed, had lived alone for many years m a small cottage at Normanby, her death being discovered last Thursday morning by a neighbour who observed drawn blinds at the windows and made investigations. According to medical testimony the. prolonged and lavish use of aspirin by Mrs Stuart would have had a deleterious effect on the heart muscles, and this probably would have assisted further to precipitate her deathThe evidence of witnesses was led by Sergeant J. Henry. Dr. A. M. Young, of Ilawent, stated that on the morning of November 2 at the request of the. police he visited a cottage at Normanby and there found the deceased, who had been dead some 10 or 12 hours. From the position or the body he presumed that death, had occurred suddenly either as. the woman was getting out of or into bed. The most likely assumption was tiiat death occurred as she was getting into bed. From external appearances witness was unable to determine the cause of death and undertook a post mortem examination at tlie. public hospital morgue. He was principally concerned about the state of Hie stomach because of a bottle ot Raiment, the only dangerous material in deceased’s house, found m the hoc - room. It was noteworthy .that the woman had on a fairly thick flannel chest protector, and a long plaster on the back of the chest apparently tor tlie treatment of a. bronchial complaint. On examination the stomach was found normal and healthy. Death was due in his opinion to fatty degeneration of the heart, precipitated bv hypostatic congestion of the lungs and cirrhosis of the liver—a quite to be expected seauence of events m _ an elderly woman. Death would be immediate.

• A neighbour, Mrs Annie Evans, said she had known deceased for the past seven years and supplied her with milk Besides visiting her frequently she kept a watch on the cottage daily to ho sure that Mrs Stuart was well and able to get about. Lately her health had not been too good. On Thursday morning witness’ son Eric delivered the milk as usual, and about 10 o’clock, on noticing the blinds still drawn. she made investigations _ m company with a friend, Mrs Atkins. Oil forcing open the front door they found deceased lying on her bed, and it was apparent she had been dead for some hours. Tlie police were notified. For some time previous to her death Mis Stuart complained of bronchitis, and besides taking aspirin used simple home remedies.

Frank Pidgeon, police _ constable stationed at Normanby, said that at 10 10 a.m. on Thursday he was informed of the death and proceeded to the cottage, where he saw Mrs Evans outside. In the bedroom there appeared to have been no struggle and the house was scrupulously clean. On a table beside the bed was a bottle containing liniment and a packet of asnirins, some of which had been used. This concluded the evidence and the coroner returned a verdict _in accordance with the medical testimony.