INQUEST.—THE SUDDEN DEATH IN FREEMAN'S BAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4450, 17 February 1876, Page 3

INQUEST.—THE SUDDEN DEATH IN FREEMAN'S BAY.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon in I the .freeman's Hotel, before Dr. Philson, i coroner, and a jury of twelve, of whom John I Parker was chosen foreman, upon the body of j Alargaret Bonfield, the old woman whose ! sudden decease we reported in our issue of yesterday. The jury having viewed the body, re-assembled, and heard the following evidence :—Louisa Sullen, wife of Henry Sullen, a baker, residing in Adelaide-street, Freeman's Bay, deposed that she had known deceased for about two years. Last saw her alive on Alonday night, the 14th instant, between 6 and 7 o'clock. —She was then in the yard behind witness's shop. Her daughter was helping her up some steps to enable her to reach her own dwelling. Deceased was then in an intoxicated state, and unable to take care of herself. Witness helped deceased into her own house, and as- • sisted to lay her in her bed, with her head on the pillow. The position in which the body was found was the reverse of the one in which Witness helped to place her. The bed was about two feet distant from the wall. Deceased was not asleep when witness left her, neither did she ask for anything. Witness had assisted deceased to her house in a similar manner about six months before. About 9 o'clock the next day (Tuesday morning), Airs. Cowie, a daughter of the deceased, came to the fence of witness's yard, and said she thought her mother was dead. Witness then went to deceased's house with Airs. Cowie, where they saw Airs. Bonfield lying on the bed with her head hanging between the wall and the bedstead. The head of the body towards the foot of the-becL The body was cold, and witness suspected deceased was dead. She then brought her husband (Henry Sullen). Dr. Hooper was sent for immediately afterwards. Deceased had been living by herself for the last two years. She ; was supported by her son. Her husband re- ' sides at the Thames. Deceased was a woman ;of intemperate habits. She did not die from starvation, as there was a sufficiency of provisions in her house. Witness learnt rthat deceased had had a fit about a year ago.—Dr. Hooper was next examined. He described the position of .the body when he was called to visit it, and cwas of opinion deceased had died from suffocation through getting into an awkward position while in an insensible state. He did not think there was any necessity for a post mortem, examination. —Airs. Conway, a •daughter of deceased, deposed to helping her mother to her house, with the assistance of first witness, on Alonday evening. Visited deceased's house the next morning, at about 9 o'clock, when she found the body of her mother cold and rigid.—This was all the evidence, and the jury at once returned a verdict .of "Found dead through suffocation while in an insensible state, the effects of drink.' ,?