INQUEST.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 22 September 1888, Page 2

INQUEST.

An enquiry was held yesterday afternoon into the pause of death of Anuta riammond, who was found dead iu her bed at an early hour in the morning. Th enquiry was held at the residence of thdecerned, Grove Road, before J. E. Hodsou, Esq.. J.P., Acting Coroner, and a jurv consisting of Meters C. Lucas (fore mail), R. Bunks, J. Jellynmn, 'J'. J. Jackson, W. H.llvde, and W. Day. The first witness called was

Henry Hammond, who deposed : I arn the husband of the deceased. I came in from town yesterday evening about S). 15 and found my wife in her usual health. Sim had a glass of bear anil a piece of bre ic and butter for her supper. She afterwards slipped off her chair in a sort of fit. Myself and daughter placed her on the /■hair again. I then went o it, to get a little brandy, as a doctor in Napier had prescribed it for Lor on a previous occasion. When I came back she was in bed. She did not speak. I the ugt sho v. a asl/pp. Iu tho meantime bho vomited two or three times. Afterwards took mr cunt off and ]»y down by her side. My daughter lay down on t.be other pide of h<r. My daughter woke me übetit 4.15 Ibis morning, and oitied me, saying wJmt was ibe matter with Sin? I then went to Mis Millington’s boa.ding house, and culled up so mo of the lodgers. One of them went for the d ictor. I went, to inform the police. 1 think she was dead when T wop as aktned bv my d««ghtor My silt tins imd fnmting fits before. Her age whs 47 years. David M. Nairn : [ am a duly qualified medical practitioner, practising in Btanijetrp- About jl6 chi* morning I

called to see the deceased On examining the body, I found it was quite dead. Rigor mortis bad >et, in in the upper part of the body. She must love t-een Head three hours. One side <>f her face was vory much distorted. Thera wero "no marks of violence on tho body ; there was no suspicious odour about the body. I cannot speak with certainty, but am of opinion that she died from paralysis. I should think her age was about 50 years.

Alma Mary Hammond : I am the daughter of tho deceased. I last saw her conscious between half-past nine and ten o’clock last night. I helped her to bed. She had some supper about half-past nine. She had a sort of fit and fell off the chair ; my father and I put her back on the chair ; my father went out to get something for her and I helped Ur into bed ; she had similar fits before when in Napier, but not so bad ; the doctor there (Dr Moore) told us she would bo liable l<> have them at full moon, hut that she would get over them ; he said the host thing to give her was some brandy and warm water; after my father oarne back he gave her some brandy and warnrwator, which stopped the sickness ; I laid down by the side of my mother with her head on my arm ; my father laid on the other side of her; she appeared to bo sleeping about 1 o’clock this morning ; I then went to sleep ; when I awoke about 4.30 she was dead.

The jury returned a verdict, “ Died :rom natural causes.”