INQUEST AT NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2459, 21 June 1893, Page 2

INQUEST AT NORMANBY.

An inquest was held on the body of Mary Ann £re*t, wife of Mr F. H. Brett, on Tuesday, before Mr C. E. Major, J.P., acting coroner, abd the following iary :— Messrs J.T.Bates, J. Wilson (foreman), °'I% D k ?; 0> Meredith, F. Williamson, and R. G. Marsh.

„ m ßrett ' hns bandof the deceased, stated—The deceased had been suffering more or less for some considerable time past, more especially for the last three or four niontba. Sometimes she would be betters and at other times worse. She complained of pain in tbe bead, and oonld not sleep. She consulted Dr Richards some time ago* who prescribed for her, and tbe prescription wis made up by Mr Fake, of Hawera; took a little ol it and she complained of feeling worse. 'I sent her to New Plymouth to consult Dr O'Oarroll; he prescribed medicine—sleeping draughts, pills, and a blister to place on tbe back of tbe neck. Sbe took tbe sleeping dranght and other medioine at the prescribed times, but they gave her no natural sleep, and she was continually complaining of the want of sleep and pain in tbe head and could not rest. Last Saturday week she went to HaweVa to stay with a friend. I went down-to see her, when I found she bad been taking laudanum; I asked her if she knew how dangerous it was, and -she said yes, and that shs took it ta make her Bleep: that she must get sleep or sbe would go mad. I saw the chemists in Hawera, who said they would give'her no more laudanum. Sbe had made strange, foolish remarks lately, quite unusual to her general manner. She said she was tired of life, and could stand the pain no longer. When the sleeping draughts did her no good, I occasianally gave her a little spirits, but always in a wine glass. Yesterday morn. ing about 11 o'clock my daughter Kate asked mc if I knew where her mother was, as her hat and cloak were gone* I said I did not know, bat told her to go to Normanby and sea if she had gone by tbe train. My daughter met her near the station, and when she got home I met her in the hall. I said I was glad she had come back, and asked her where she had been. She said " To Bates', about the batter, and I have brought some chlorodyne and some toothache cure." I asked her for the chlorodyne, which she gave mc, saying, " You can "give mc some according to tbe directions: it will make mc sleep." About half-past two I asked my daughter where her mother was, when sbe told mc she bad gone to lie down. I went dWt'on the farm, returning about 4.30. I asked Mrs Watkins how my wife was getting on. She said she was still asleep. I went into tberrootm t and went towards the bed. She sat up, and from the expression on her face, and from the peculiar smell, I could see that she had taken poison. I put my arm round her, and said, "My God! Mary, what have you taken ?'' She replied, " Rough on rats." I called for the women, and went to the kitchen and mixed mustard and water, and sbe drank it. I also mixed some milk and water, but sbe could not tajje it. I then sent for tbe doctor. Sbe ; o complained of her feet getting cold, so I ordered hot water for her feet. She shortly afterwards died. 1 By Constable Salmon—The rough-on rats was found under the mattrass at the foot of the bed. Owing to the strange manner of deceased I had previously (three months ago) hidden all poisonous matters used on the farm, I cannot say where she got the poison., Isabella Watkins, of RangitikeiYwidow, gave evidence similar to Mr Brett, adding that after death she found a box of rough-on-rats under the mattrass of the bed deceased was on. A note in pencil was found in deoeased|s handbag after the death ; the note stated sbe was sure she would neve? get better; that she had had no sleep for three mcrnths; and that she could stand it no longer, and hoped God would have mercy on her soul. The note was in the haridwritipg of the deceased. Constable Salmon gave evidence as to having been present; at the post m6riem t when Dr. Richardshad drawn his attention to the congestion ot.jthe deceased'e brain. Dr. Richards gave medical evidence. The unanimous verdict of the jury was, " That deceased died from tbe effects of poison administered by hersejf when of unsound mind."