INQUEST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 7, 19 December 1911, Page 3

INQUEST.

MRS T iNKI.X DHATIL Tin- inquest < -mei ruing ihe dr-aIL f -'lis I - sn::v (>< . igina Tonkin j vas coriiiumd 1:1 the Napier (biiiti ium-e before the District <'oro::‘,; - . Mr. S. E. McCarthy, yesterday aftei I aspect <,j- Dwyer conduct, d the a. - c tor ti;e police. Mr. Dolan -i.i an d for Captain Tonkin ard N ; r. j \'i o ,d tor the relatives of the .ie- ’ : a--i 1 1 . THE ANALYSTS REPORT. The I'.-c.:.:' tlii-n read the report i >f the (lov. i :nm n analyst. Mr. ,J. S. ‘daclaiirin. D.S. - ,, E.C.S.. which wa • iis follows : "I have made a careful :i .:!v-:s of the siomneh. which v.ai ibsolutely empty', but have found i trio - < f poison. I have also < ‘ - xa<!iiit‘. d the stains on the night dre-.s. These wire i.f a -lightly j ,'reenish eolour. and had the appear | it- - -' of vomit. The amount <f v > i.nited rnatti r iri the nightdress was [ X -. < eim.'ly small, and I was unabl : ■O detect any p..iron tn it. (>f tin iL-otllcs forwarded only il.iee ..a '.'lined poi-on, tiatiii iy. \... la. No. 2 (carbolic a.ad), and No. 3 (chloro ly m). No la i- labelled, 'apply or vool to cavity of i ’ As r- - •eived by i.w it contained otiiy a fe.. Ir. ps of a dark brown liqiti I. ! > have been able to prove that tLiI -oytains carbol - . - acid, ami from in ■; ippe.arance, smell and gem r;:l vhrn ■j leters. I am of opinion that the pre . i;.ral ton is carbolisi d resin a pre i .ar.itton cot.iiimal.v us. d by dentists i Li e small amount < f rc ildish bi >.v: s nbstanee a<ih< t'itig to the table ■ | vpuon marked 'a contain ; n.» car 'i'.-die acid, and is certainly m - t tin '[ -ame as tin - ii'iuid in the Lot th a..iked la. It has tie app. • '::i" ' \ u.d smell < f Equid ixtract '■ r.reara. but the amoiti.l at my <’ti : i J -msal was t. > small fi.r certain iden dr-tit i“t>. The bottle if earbolii | acid is alniort full, and apparent! - . ■ | has not boon opened f r some con C -iderable time, judging by the accu ■ i midatiun of tin - dust on ti.e <ak an, ' !;■( ck of the Lottie. No. 3 bottli ’! out aims chlor idyne, (Le most m ' 1 ;n rtant ingri.iicnts -..f which an ' ; m-irphia and Indian hemp. Alxni. d.hne fitnahs of the contents o-F thi - 1 Lottie had Lieu removed. 11 is mi ’ ! fort iinate that oil;, r port'mns if tie 1 ' b. dy, su.-li as the liver and kidney; ' ■ re i; t f .rwaidid. for the stom'tel : ><iim empty, t here was liut lit i!< ! likelihood of dite.-ting such a poisol ' ! ,s morphia, which may him - cause. lie ileath of dec. as. .1. 111 tin I i of the last authority s 01 J oxi.■<■ logic.-tl analysis, < ;:<• m -- . - - j almost ay that the organ in wliiel [ here is tile lea-t possibility of find ■ ; :ig morphia is the stomach. THE EA IDENT'E. . i Richard Rayniond Todd, t hitl , j L-rk <-f the Wairoa Steamship i-It posed that Captain Tonkin ■ m ! .he imaturgor of the compai.y. • 1 • he Saturday afternoon before tin ;1. ce.a-ed’s d. atli witm ss saw her ; • ’ids ofiim - at Port Ahuriri. Cnptaii t j Tonkin was present, at the time. J Both left the ollie: - about a quart. ; -j-.ast four. Did not see the dee. 1w- ; I ifter th!-. <hi the f dh.wiiig M mLr i witness had a <•'>:> versa, ion Ly id" 1 ' phon: - with her. She said th -' J neither Captain Tonkin imr J w as well, and she attributid this . .L>me meat pies they had talon r-.l -Pet Ahuriri oil Saturday. This wai . 1 ill that wa ■ said. Mrs r..::k'n < c .-a-imiaiiy vi.-ited the Spit Lmu t ;],e Miiiiniir months, (aptnu. l - >n | ><..) ...as oiLcr when lie th. [!.,lli‘e on Saturday' aft or.erm t d-ow<d 1:0 ■ i'.'iis of li'it; r. I. Captain Tonkin, eontiimi: g hi- .' ex i'i(-!ice. d< posed that he was :!'< Sph the Sat.-rd'iy afertm-el. li.i t -2.-th November. He went to - , ll’r cat half P-a* - ’ < >sh' hi - w• .' c : eanie to see him about mo > >vt- . r 'hortly after. Th. yr< maim dt •. ■; g< ’her till about a quarter pa.-t tour V. 1 efi witm !< ft home in ’lm out t 1 is wife asked him if im v ' ;• coming home at midday. AAunc' - '-replied tlmt Le was m - t. as '■<' m . it.-ii.lnl to work at his le.-ik'. s wife -ai'i ilmt -be would come dowi I mid he’ji 1 im- Witness ropb< -I 1 1'" - s : !-.■ was afraid she .0'.i1.l m-t <(o mmi but c mid <■ ;mo down if sh< - wi-V.'d • M’hi v lemdi.d together m the ofl.ee i Cm hir v.ay do ah the deci as< d l.m . b„„gl lt some meat pies ami t e; . , t „ tlie-e hi-mely. Shortly ntv ’ b o', hr k his wife eompla'.m d o I L cling very id and s had better go I’-ouie. He got a <---■ J I. ti - . ’■•.■ent 1.-tiv- On '•■- 1- * - r homo his wife sat down and betwe. . .'five and six o clock ?he sa.d t 'would go to Led. Mitnr-. ,"m-' s h.r -ome time bet ween s”. < a am - o'clock. She wa , m.t - I - - ■' then bft was quiet. llm im- • unever.runy. ■■ moining 'h* - -md mat si« pas . v w . 11 ami r.m.' - md m b. d tn . I dav On Momlav in-nni - . \i-s'Tonkin was still feeling m.we r ;U!1! kept to her Ltd. At night wit k and 1:I!i wlf ‘’ witrnw .. a I.x their U.iugntt >. t in'b.d on Monday, havuig M in"?, - Sunday as well. He remain.; a ; n pis ro-.ni all tin - tnim. Hi> _v.itinplain <m MomUy night e OnTmmdavtim.lee las..ig.>t 1 as..ig.>t ’L ’”; - i .in-ssr.t. Vi ttm.>s wa- up <»n • Koi. 1,1.1 im .ltd not m - I- ' 4 4 -i'll ■».'•’ 'A H" ’ ' ‘ 1 ‘' 1 ,I- -I-*’ - weak. The rang n,< • • i,‘T'ds .tilt Hlg ’hr ‘‘- y ■ n 1m... went f b *' l ..'el - < k ami ' s " :,i 11 Zf.. .it, > ltd ■-’•"■nt I” 1 1 . 1 -,s f-t- II- ■ ■ ' ami “ '' , - . al.i! ir - w. - ms- wem 10 - - ”p k Tl'-'m''--' r. I'. about, f■•: ■ 1 1 ■ ’- , ~r , „ : h .ii;!.i II a than ‘ H ; e ~b ;> th. y rernamtd In ‘n I. 1;c wife had a drink ot v.m>k ?

' Monday and Tm sdr.y. About four o’clock witness found Ins wife tinJ co , .'red. Sim was then dead. ll<- : •: mum diatr ly aroused the h -u:-eho!d | : and rang vp for the doctor. C.ntl'.l | 'nor give any explanation tu. - th -- ; ! discolouration of the lye.id and ther other bruises. There was no t-miiLm . Jmt.veen himself am! his vtife. They: J had a little iimnry matter t-> fix up. | : ::nd on Tnesdav 11>< y vv< re discitssiu a i ’the b(.‘."t nmthed ’0 sittle it. Hi.-; .iie v. a:i a little wo: in d as slm , : .vi’.'.itc d it v.'ipied out. Hie de-; [■■cased was not liable to fit;-, home ; ■ days before h.r death the cle.-i use-1 I bail got r - . 1.-c-itie of medicine from i >l.- ehemi-t on the 1 ecommendation ] i i.f n lady friend, who s. . me d to b< - , ! suffering fr< m the same syiiipt.>ii:;[ ! ;-s herself. The taking c.f t-his m<d>- j cine s'cetin-d to do her good. Hr 1 ’ wife Lad made a will about tom'; ; month'; ago leaving a'l h< r properly; [to witness. By mutual arrangeim m 1 - ;) :d at her • mig-st ; on they agued ' tieh make Lis and lu r will. ' ■ i - i\ nil tlie property to bis wi f e ; f j he should dir - ami his wife aid like-; wise. [ To Mr. Dolan : They were boim [ | present when th” wills wire dr;', an J HU, He Lad been married ordvel l.vi-ars Lv-f Scptcmlmr ami their rchi--iions had always Imeii ol the m s- ’ alfe.-t’orn’t -- character. j Re examined b.v Inspector Dwyer. .Between Saturday and the day of bis wife's d. - atli they drank about a [bottle of whisky. Tim bottles found’ inside the liedroom were the accn- ,[ initiation of months. . i Eth’-l Katherine Smith, wife of . j Frederick George Smith, deposed that she remembered the - morning of the 2!)tli ult. Herrick Tonkin, ' I to her plac -- . ami said his j • ! mother was .lead. She went, down to [Hie holts -- . She saw the Captain. [ -! Margaret and the two young child-1 [ ren. and they all appeared to be J very affected. She went upstairs: [ ami commenced to lay Mrs. Tonkin 1 lout. She noticed that there were, Uwo nightdresses on the body, a | j chemise and a cotton singlet. The I I chemise and the singlet were stained j l ‘ with vomit. ’I lie sheets ami the | I clothes were wet from the hip j downwards, apparently with urine.[ , i Witness thought the bedclothes . were covering 1 he deceasecl when , sli? entered the bedroom. The doc’’tor had seen the deceased before witness arrived. She knew the de- ' eeased and saw her last two nr ■three months before her death. . ' To Mr. Dolan: Witness made no | . I suggestion to the doctor as to the i . [ cause of death. I {I Margaret, Tonkin. deposed that! .’the deceased was her step-mother. | I Sh ■ had always lived with her. .[father and stepmother. About a, , I week before her death the deceased ‘,[ complaint d of feeling unwell. She j went oat on the Saturday to her ■ father's office and returned about 5 C o’clock in company with lather. i I On Sunday they were in lied all day. [ ■ ami had their meals taken, up to: J them. On Monday they still remain-■ lied in bed. Her moth.-r came down-i ■ I stairs for a minute or two. but she, . [rtimlc no complaint. On Tuesday 5 her mother was up ami seemed to , j be much better. The room occupied .[|,y witness was next door to her [parents. Witness heatd no noise. [ ; The first she heard of her mother’s! death was on \\ edne.-day when hei ( ’ ’ father gave the alarm. On each oc- • ; easion that witness had seen her J step-mother ami her father, they liwere perfectly sober. Her father ,: and mother lived very happily to- ' get her. seldom having tiffs or qmar- > ■' rels. -[ To Mr. Dolan: Last saw hei ; I mother alive on Tuesday afternoon. ' ! Witness took her some tea, and she [ j seemed much better. Heard hei ; mother using the bedroom telephone I (luring the day. The clean night-1 ; ! dress -Mrs. Tonkin was wearing was! ’ i put on after her d -- ath by witness I and her father. ’] To the Coroner: Noticed no 1 of bruises when she last saw her ri mother alive <m Tuesday afternoon. "I John Carvossoe Tonkin, jun.. a; storeman in tlie employ of Williams, ‘!and Kettle, and the eldest son of I i Captain Tonkin, deposed that he 1 ■w lived with his fa: her. Lately his I work had taken him out early ami kept him away late at night. He I ’'took some tea to his father and | mother at about half-past six on | ; : Sundav morning and spoke to tlie deceased. This was the last time he, • [saw bis stepmother a] I'*’ 1 '*’- He was [ sleeping at home on luesday night. | " ‘ ami heard no noise. If there l:ad ■ ’ been anv noise in Iris fathers room j ’ ' he would certainly have heard it. | 5 Witness was in tied w hen lie heard j 1 'of his mother’s death. On the Sun-! 1 ! dav prior to his mother s death he ' had heard some talking going on m j ' her bedroom. It was not, qtiarrel- : ling. They all got, on very well with 1 llieir step-mother. She was not given to drink. : ' Nellie Meddins, a nurse, deposed! f that 0:1 the 29th ult. she was called ■ ' to Captain Toiikm s house at about ; J half-past seven in the morning. She | ? : saw the deceased on the bed and i } helped to lay her out. The deceased | 1 ‘ had two nightdresses on and two ; undergarments. The top gown was [ ' (l ( lean diy one. and the undergar-■ merits were very wet am! soiled with | ' . bile. There w ere no marks of blood. | ‘ ' Noticed that the left eye was black-1 ' ened, and that there were bruises. r 1 on the left forearm am! on the right • 'J leg. The elothr s were saturated wit h , I what witness thought smelt l.ke ri whisky. Witness 'r.-.v the decensi d ~ . at the front gate the morning before she diol. After .-aying "Good morn1 1 ing” witness asked what was wrong p as she was not looking well. She replied that since Saturday she had : been suffering from colic. She .-.-. id i.’ tliis was due to eating some meat "■pies. Witness askol what she had ' taken to relieve her. and she rt plied j j "Whisky." She a-ked Mrs. Tonkin , [ to promise not to take any more, but p ' she gave no answer except to r.-k r : witness to come again in a few d.'iy-. Witness helped to I’tl.v up the room. • and noticed about a dozen xxln-ky y bottles. They were, with one excepi. rioii. all empty. This was the only g'l’me that witness Lad been tn the room. To Mr. Dolan: The undergarments R smelt as if they had been saturated < , with a mixture of water and whisky, v [ Would not be surprised to hear that • another mir«e had sworn that <r was

urine. AA'itness could not be mistaken as to what caused the wetness of the clothes. Il might be a year ago since she last tasted whisky. She told Captain Tonkin the grenter part of the conversation she had l.a<l with Mrs. Tonkin, and rtcommended him to obtain medical advice. Herrick Tonkin. ch;k in the T.vsrr Co., deposed tliat he lived with his father in Roslyn road. On the night of the 29th witness slept at home. His room was not ftrr away from his parents'. He did not hear any noise. Last saw his mother alive on Tuesday morning. She was at the top of the landing. There were r.o marks (.ii his step-mother’s face. He was on good terms with her. as were the whole family. His step-mother ceeasionally took drink, but lie had never sen her the worse for hqix(. On Wednesday morning witness heard his father call out that his mother was (had. The two young children slept in witness’ room.

To Mr. Dolan : There were no signs of drink on his step-mother when she asked him to do up her dress at the ton of the landing.

At the request of the medical practitioners Captain Tonkin was recalled. He deposed that Mrs. Tonkin brought, three or four pics down 10 the office on the Saturday as well ;is a flask of whisky. Witness ate two pies and Ids wife ate one. Could not say whether the meat was pork or mutton. AVitness felt drowsy tiftt'r eating tlie pies and had pains, in his stomac h. The pains continued until witness arrived home. Mrs. Tonkin suddenly fell asleep in l:ir chair after eating them. She slept f<.r nearly an hour. He watched her and saw her wake up stidenly. She (xelaimed "Good gracious. Jack, v. hat has come over me ? I fell v< ry ill. She complained of pains in her stomach and she suffered from colic and diarrhoea during Saturday night. She might have vomited during Sunday night xvitb.out witness knowing.

Inspector Dwyer said he did not think it necessary to call the maker of the pies. They xvt re newly made, and hail been eaten ny the family xvilhout any harm resulting. Dr. Edgar, continuing liis evidence, said that from xvhat he had heard today there xvas nothing to suggest any cause - of death. There was gastritis due to some irritant. Dr. Leahy deposed that he had heard the evidence, read tlie analysis and examined the stomach. The evidence given by tlie witnesses did not explain the appearance of the stomach. There had been some irritant. and the evidence xvith regard to alcohol xvas totally insufficient to cause death. There xvas an irritant, but he xvas unable to ray xvhat it xvas. Dr. Berman xvas also unable to account for the cause of death. Nothing given in the evidence xvas sufficient to explain the condition of the stomach and the cause of death. Tin: VERDICT. The coroner returned tlie folloxving findings That the deceased, Fanny Georgina Tonkin, was found dead by her husband on the morning of the 29th Nov., 1911, at half-past four o'clock, the deceased being then elead some hours. That there is not suffie'etit evidence as to the cause of the said death.

The following rider xvas added :— I That xvhen a medical man discovers j such a state of things as may reason- j ably point to foul play to any human i being a responsible police officer! should be first communicated xvith. i

With regard to the suggestion of ! the Analyst that there might, be some j poison in the liver or kidneys, he ! said that it xvas not desirable to have [ the body exhumed for the necessary • examination. Even ,-upposing that ; traces of poison xvere found there xvas ‘ not the slightest evidence to shoxv xvho administered it or xvhether its' administration xvas accidental or intentional. That being the state of the evidence no further action should be taken. Dr. Edgar said the Analyst had suggested that morphia might have been taken. He xvished to point out that morphia was not an irritant, ami xvoukl not cause the appearance pre- [ seated by the stomach. \ | With’regard to tlie Coroner's ver-i diet. Dr. Edgar has pointed cut to us j that he did notify the police of tlie! df ath at 5 a.m. j