DEATH OF MRS. QUARRIE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 365, 25 June 1877, Page 2

DEATH OF MRS. QUARRIE.

THE INQUEST. The Coroner's inquiry touching the cleat ii of Mrs. Quarrie was resumed at the Court-house to-day, before T. W. Paiker, Esq., 11.M. and Coroner, and the following jury: —Richard M. Payne (foreman), Samuel Rusbatch, John Ca ney, Janes Reid, Peter Ford, James T. Richards, John George, Henry Brown, Taos. Vincent, Gavin M'Ghie, George Bruce, Henry Richmond, Robert C. Lindsay, and Thomas Shalders.

Sub-Inspector Smith conducted the inquiry. Mr. O'Meagher appeared to watch the cast; on behalf of Daniel Quarrie.

On Daniel Quarrie being placed in the dock, Mr. O'Meagher asked why such a course had been pursued. Sab-Inspector Smith said it had been done in consequence of Daniel Quarrie having been brought into the Court under warrant.

The warrant was then produced. Mr. O'Meagher said he apprehended that the Crown would deal with Quarrie in the ordinary way,'and pointed out that Quarrie was not on his trial. The Coroner said he was certainly net on his trial.

After some discussion, Quarrie was allowed to take a seat.

Sub - Inspector Smith put in a plan showing the various distances in connection with the scene of the occurrence. George Quarrie, a grocer's assistant, deposed : I reside in Keid-street, and lived with, my mother, Sarah Eleanor Quarrie, up to the 21st June. My brother, Daniel Quarrie, my sister, Emily Mona Quarrie, Miss Dugan, and Mrs. Claridge also lived with my mother. The two last were boarders in the house. I left the house on the morning of the 21st, and went to my business. On that morning I saw my mother. She was not looking very well, but I did not hear her complain of anything. I returned at one o'clock for my dinner, and saw my mother then in the dining-room. There was no one with her then. I asked her for my dinner, which she brought to me. 1 sat down and was taking it. My brother Daniel came in about five minutes after me. He asked my mother for a cup of tea. This was in the dining-room. There were only the three of us present. My mother gave him the tea. He then took up the morning paper and was reading it. He was sitting at the table. My mother then went into the kitchen, and afterwards went outside. The kitchen is part of the house. I could see the kitchen door through the dining-room window. The kitchen is on the left hand side after leaving the diningroom. My mother left the kitchen in about a minute, and went through the back-yard gate and turned to the left. That was the last time I saw her alive. After my brother Daniel had finished taking his tea he got up and went out of the same door as my mother had gone out of. The next time I saw him was when, he had my mother in his arms. I heard my sister call out. Immediately after my" mother had gone out, my sister came out of the front room and passed out of the back door also. My brother Daniel was sitting in the dining-room reading the paper when my sister wenc out. What I heard my sister say was, " Daniel—George." I got up, and ran out of the same dour as my mother had gone out of. I Vent through the back yard gate, and turned to the left, and as I did so I saw mv mother in my brother's arms. They were out by the end of the shed. They were near the back gate at the shed. My mother was in a sitting position, and my brother had his arms round her under her arms. He was at the back of her. She was about two feet outside the back gate. My sister was standing at the end of the kitchen, outside the back yard gate. About a minute and a half had elapsed from the time 1 saw my mother pass through the gate until I saw her in my brother's arms. Sly brother carried my mother a little wiy inside the back gate. I then took hold of her in the same manner that my brother had previously done, and Daniel

went away and got some water. He threw some on her face. Daniel and I carried her into the bouse, and laid her down on the floor. My sister came alongside of me when I went out, and returned with us to the dining-room when we carried mother in. My sister said, ''Run for the doctor." My brother was then in a great state, bein<* very pale. I went through the front door for a doctor, leaving my brother and sister in the dining-room. 1 saw Dr. DeLautour and told Dim, and I returned about ten minutes. There were then present my sister. Mrs. Dougherty, and the doctor. I did not see my brother. I did not see him again until yesterday. 1 did not notice anything strange in my mother's appearance before going for the doctor; and I did not hear either my brother or sister say that my mother had fallen down in a tit. I did not hear anybody quarrelling before this. When my mother brought in my brother's tea, I heard her speaking to him about an account which she had paid to Anderson, for boots. The boots were for the whole of the family. She was not speaking crossly to him ; but in. the usual way. My mother and my brother have had words. I cannot say how long it is since they had a disagreement. They have never had words in my presence, though I have heard them from a distance talking crossly to each other. My brother was not about to gat married, neither was my mother speaking crossly to him about a young lady. My brother was in his usual state.° My mother was not so well as usual ; she was looking much paler. S-.ie had been taking some medicine which had been recommended to her, hut which disagreed with her. It was hi'.raplci\i. and gin. I did not see any cuts on my mother, neither did I see anything lying about ou the ground. 1 did not look.

To the Foreman : When we hud carried my mother into the dining-room 1 saw some blood on my coat. I did not notice a mark on my mother's nose, nor on her mouth. I cannot say where the blood came from. I cannot say positively wiiat was the reason for my mother going out of the back yard, but I think it was to see if. Mrs. Docherty, who was assisting her with the washing-, was coming.

To Mr. I cannot_ say from whom my mother got the medicine whic.i she was "taking. I cannot say how Ion.; she had been taking it, nor when she left it off. She told me she left it oil' because it disagreed with her. My brother Daniel was very excited. Ho was very white, and was jumping about, When my father died he ran about much in the same way. T.ie least thing excites him very much. To tae Foreman : Mother had been in the habit of paying Daniel's accounts, and he was not likely to get excited on that account. He made no remarks, but said, " Han for a doctor."

To Mr. O'Meaghcr: Immediately afte: my father's deat i my brother Daniel disappeared for ti whole day, and was fount at the D-vii's Bridge.

Emily Mona Quarrie deposed: Up to the 21st instant 1 lived in lleid-strcefc with my mother. My mot .er complained the whole of Thursday morning of giddy and cold. Wo generally have dinner at 12 o ; c!ock. When George came home to his dinner. Miss Dugan, Miss (Jleary, and Mrs. Claridge had finished their dinner. There was no one in the honse when George came in except myself. I was in the front room. George called for his dinner, and I heard mother bring it in. He came in the back way, as he always does. I heard no conversation whatever. I still remained in the front room for about ten minutes. 1 thou passed through the house into the back yard. In doing so I saw George at the dinner table. I think Daniel was standing at the chest-of-drawers in the, diningroom at the time, but i did not notice what he was doing. The window of the room I was in faces lUwl and Coquet streets. When 1 went out 1 went through the back yard gate. As 1 went oil'the gate, I turned to the left, and I saw my mother in the back gate way. When I came to the end of the kitchen I saw my mother in the act of falling. 1 called to my brothers Daniel and George that mother had fallen. Daniel was the first to con)". He came through the back yard gate and passed me. He placed {his arms "round mother and lifted her up. George then came out. By this lime Daniel had lifted mother in a little way. I said : " Oh, get some water," and George took hold of mother, and Daniel got some water. Neither of them made any remark when 1 said get some water. Some water was thrown on my mother's face. I did not see any cuts or wounds about my mother, and I did not notice any blood about her. Daniel and George carried her into the dining-room. 1 asked them then to run for the doctor. Daniel said he would go, and left the house. Geoi'ge went a short time after. Daniel was in a fearful state. He was very excited, and was rushing backwards and forwards. After my brothers left, a niece of Mrs. Dougherty's (about seven years old) came, and then Mrs. Dougherty and the doctor. I cannot say how long it was from the time of George leaving before the doctor came, but it was not long. George returned shortly afterwards. I never saw Daniel after he left the house. I did not hear my mother having any conversation with anyone within ten minutes of my seeing her fall. T l did not see anything to cause my mother to fall. She was going through the gate. I did not see any person near her at the time of her falling. I was the nearest to her. When she fell her head fell from me. I could not see from where I was standing whether or not her head touched anything in falling. I do not know why my mother was going out of the Lack gate. When Daniel passed mo he said something as to what was wrong with mother, but what his exact words were 1 caanot say. After mother was brought

into the dining-room I noticed a wound at the back of her neck. I think sho fell all of a heap. Sometimes my mother and my brother Daniel would have a few cross words about different tilings. I cannot say when I heard them doing so last. I never heard them having cross words about some young woman Daniel wanted to mai-y. There is a small tomahawk about the place, which is kept in the kitchen. I saw it that day in the kitchen. I did not see anybody use it. It was near the stove, and was kept for catting small sticks and meat. It is rather new, but we have had it a good while ; it has nob been much used. I have seen the tomahawk since ; it is in the kitchen. It is used for cutting old boxes and wood of that kind. When Daniel and George carried my mother into the dining-room they did so "by the arms and feet. I think I followed them in. My mother wore her hair in a net that day. She fastened it with a hairpin. The hairpin was in the hair at the neck. The hair was twisted up at the back, with the hairpin in it, and the net over it. [Left sitting.]