INQUEST AT THE GAOL.
Mr. Shaw, R.M., held an inquest at the gaol, at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, on the body of Mary Lazary, who died there on Wednesday morning while undergoing a sentence. A jury of twelve was sworn in, of which Mr. 1 Anderson was foreman. Mr. Shaw remarked that if tire deceased had died in her home no inquest would be necessary, but the law jealously provided that an inquiry should be' held on the body of anyone dying in prison, from whatever cause. Hence the inconvenience the jurymen were no doubt caused by being brought there.—Dr. Johnston deposed he was the medical attendant at the gaol. The deceased woman became a prisoner about the middle of June, and was then ill from the effects of drink and exposure. She had been under his care nearly all the time since, suffering from wasting, the result of intemperate habits. She became weak in her mind, and thought her medicines were poison. She got rapidly weaker a week ago, and arrangements were made for transferring her to the Hospital had she lived to Wednesday next, when her sentence would expire. Last Friday she was worse than usual, and he prescribed for her. On Saturday she was a little hotter. On Tuesday she was still worse, and refused to take her medicines. He saw she was then dying, and she died on Wednesday morning about 8.45. The cause of death was exhaustion from general atrophy.—Louisa Reid, matron of the gaol, deposed that on the 16th June, when deceased was admitted, she said she had been lying out on the grass several nights. She was most emaciated, and in a deplorable condition. She always refused to take her medicine, and had gradually got worse. On Wednesday morning, while witness had gone to get her a little sago, she sank rapidly and died on her return, t he had been twice married by her own account, but where her husbands were was not known. She was 35 years old, and serving her 41st sentence. In the intervals between her sentences she slept out and lived very rough.—Mr. Reid, governor of (the gaol, gave formal evidence, and the jury then returned a verdict of “ Death from exhaustion through atrophy,”
INQUEST AT THE GAOL.
New Zealand Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 6069, 11 September 1880, Page 3
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