A Serious Charge.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8145, 20 November 1905, Page 6

A Serious Charge.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH. November 19

On Saturday afternoon the police arrested John Byrne on 'a charge of having caused actual bodily harm'to Jane Johnson, alias.Dolly Jameson, wh'o died of consumption a few days ago, and who was suffering from a broken jaw at the time ,of her death. She lived with Byrne, and at the inquest touching her death the .foreman stated that the jury considered that the man Byrne should be severely censured for not obtaining medical advice when the woman broke her jaw.

. The above case created considerable .indignation a few days ago. The evidence of Sybil Maude, a nurse, at the inquest disclosed that the woman was in a destitute condition, and witness supplied bedding and other necessaries and made her comfortable. In answer to a question, deceased stated that Byrne, who was living with her, had injured her, but a few minutes laier began to wander in her speech. She was sensible at intervals. The man stated that the woman had fallen down and broken her jaw, and the woman had told the doctor this. There had been no food in the house when she paid her first visit, and the bidding was very dirty. Dr A. J. Orchard stated that the deceased had visited him with the man Byrne on- October 12th, calling herself "Mrs Byrne." Witness found her to be suffering from consumption, and pointed out that the woman's only chance lay in sanatorium treatment. He directed them to Nurse Maude's office. The woman had then no injury to her jaw. He heard no more of the case until the previous Friday, when Byrne asked him to visit the woman. He found her. nearing death from consumption, and suffering from a broken jaw. She stated that it had been broken for seven or eight days, and that it had been the result of a fall. He questioned her and Byrne pretty closely about the matter, but got no further information. He also asked the man why they had not gone to Nurse Maude, but got no satisfactory answer. The man appeared to be suffering from the efiects of a drinking bout. The house was very miserable, and quite destitute. The case altogether was as miserable as it could be. He telegraphed for the woman's sister, and paid daily visits, but the case was quite hopeless. ~He could- not set the jaw, and that condition probably accelerated death, but to no very appreciable extent. The woman was too weak to have the jaw attended to, and was more comfortable as she was. The cause of death was consumption. He had, of course; thought of an assault in connection with the injury, but he had considered that he would. only be stirring up further mud by reporting the matter to the police. The sister had wanted to keep the matter quiet in the interests of the family.