A WOMAN’S DEATH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1831, 10 April 1907, Page 58

A WOMAN’S DEATH

VICTIM TO FIRE. ' A DIFFICULT PATIENT. An inquest was held at the hospital i the 2nd inst., before Mr J. Ashcroft (Coroner), concerning the death at that institution on the previous day of Mrs Leonidas Smith, victim of the burning acc ; dent at Island Bay on March 17th last.

Rev. John Dawson, of the Webb street Primitive Methodist Church, said that deceased was formerly a member of his congregation.. Her age was between fifty and sixty. He understood her husband was dead, and that she had one son who went away with one of the contingents to South Africa. Deceased had one or two peculiarities, though, generally speaking, she was perfectly sane. . Thomas Yourelle, formerly deceased’s next door neighbour on the Parade, Island Bay, stated that early on Sunday morning, March 17tli, he was awakened by hearing screams. Cot up, and saw that Mrs Smith’s house was on fire. Went to the spot from whence the screams emanated, and found deceased lying in the creek on her back. He took her out and into his own house. Noticed that her hands and the back of her dress were burnt. She said that someone had set fire to her place, but she did not seem to' know what she was saying. The house was burnt down. Oil and other remedies were procured for deceased, but she said she knew more about such things than anyone else, and* wanted to put her feet in water. Dr Welsh came, and she would scarcely let him treat her. Patrick Lundon, another neighbour of deceased’s, said that his house was also burnt down in the fire. Deceased’s screams aroused him. Thought that probably, deceased being a maker of medicines, she had left some decoction simmering on the fire, and that it had boiled over and caught fire. She had been there six weeks.

Sergeant Hutton deposed to seeing the glare of'five in the direction of Island Bay whilst on duty in Tory street oil 17th ult. Went to the scene of the outbreak. Found deceased in Mr Yourelle’s house. She was badly burned about the head and hands. ”Deceased insisted upon being bathed in cold water, and had her feet in a basin of it. Witness told her that that was the wrong treatment, and wanted to use oil. She forbade him to do so, said she herself was a doctor, and that cold water was the best. In about an hour’s time Dr Welsh arrived. He had a tremendous job with her. She would not permit him to inject anything into'"lier body to give her relief. He (the doctor) had to fight and • struggle with her. She was very obstinate, and repeatedly told him she was a doctor herself. Dr Welsh eventually ordered her to the hospital. Whilst waiting for the doctor, deceased told witness she lived alone, and did not remember having a light. Could got nothing further from her. To all questions she said, “Go away; I’m in too much pain.” Had known deceased a number of- years. She was always peculiar. Before going to Island Bay she lived in Vivian street, where he had known her frequently, to have lights burning in the house ali night long, and her doors barred. Had had her under observation until quite recently. Dr Ewart stated that on admission to the hospital deceased said she was unable to account for the fire. From the very first she was only conscious at times. Her death was due to blood-poisoning setting in as the result of her burns.

A verdict of accidental death was returned.