THE WANGANUI ABORTION CASE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9321, 16 June 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WANGANUI ABORTION CASE.

THE INQUEST. Wanoanui, June 11,

Tho adjourned inquest into the oiroam* stances surrounding the death of Emily Kate Spicer was held at the Courthouse, commencing at II a.m. to day, before Mr E. N. Liffitou, Acting-Coroner, and a jury of six, of which Mr A. D. Willis was chosen fore* man.

Sergeant-Major Anderson conducted the case en behalf of tho police, and Mr David Hogg appeared to watch tbe proceedings on behalf of Mrs Peyman, who was present iu charge of tbe gaoler.

Tbe first witness examined was Annie Cockbaro, mother of the deceased, who deposed to her daughter having been in the Lunatic Asylum in Wellington in ISBS /or five months. On the 7th of June she

accompanied Sergeant-Major Anderson to Mrs Jupp’s, and saw him take possession of three bottles which wore in her duughter’s box. On her return to Murtoa on the Bth she found a letter from Mrs Peyman telling her that her daughter was ill at her house and wanted to see her.

Mr A. J. Parsons deposed to deceased having been in bis employ a- servant, and to her good conduct. On Tuesday, 26th May, she complained of being ill and left his house, and on tho following day Harry Meehan called, and asked to see her, but he told him she had left.

William Kiouiard, cabman, deposed taking a female from Mr Parson’s to Mrs Jupp’e.

The latter deposed to a female calling at her boardinghouse on the 26th after 4 p.m. requiring lodgings. Witness having no vacancy, the girl went away, leaving her luggage, saying she would send for it, but she never did so.

Henry Chap. Meehan deposed that be bad kept company with the deceased for 5 months, and bad been unduly intimate with her. On the 30th May he was sent for to Mts Peymau’s, and found her there very ill. He intended to have married her in October next. He went for Dr James on Sunday night, and sat up with deceased every night until the end. He did not know her condition or he .would have married her at once.

After the adjournment, the principal evidence given was that of Or James, who said he hud his suspicions when he was called to attend deceased. She confessed to him that an operation had been performed on her by Mis Peyman. She at first said she was a married woman, but afterwards admitted that she was single. Dr Tripe took her dying deposition. He bad made a post-mortem examination, assisted by three other doctors, and as a result was of opinion that death was dm to peritonitis, caused by puncture of the womb by an instrument. The puncture could not have been self-iofficted. Deceased told him Mrs Peyman charged her £5, The inquest at this stage was adjourned until 10.30 to-morrow morning.

Wanganui, June 16. The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Emily Kate Spicer was resumed this morning, when Drs Earle and Connolly gave evidence mainly corroborative of that given by Dr Innea yesterday. After the dinner adjournment evidence was given by Dr Tripe, Mrs Foster (the nurse), and the police. Dr Tripe deposed to taking down, as a Justice of tho Peace, tho dying declarations of the deceased, which were made of her own free will, and iu full belief that she was about to die. Tho statement, which was read, described the illegal operation which the unfortunate woman declared had been performed upon her by Mrs Peyman on the 24th May, for which she had paid £5 iu accordance with agreement.

The nurse’s statement of the confession made to her by the deceased was a confirmation of the declaration before Dr Tripe. Sergeant-Major Anderson deposed to finding certain articles in the possession of Mis Peyman. The jury returned the following verdict: “That Emily Kate Spicer came by her death at the bands of Caroline Peyman, and we record a verdict of wilful murder against the said Caroline Peyman.”