One of Life's Tragedies.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 6695, 22 September 1896, Page 3

One of Life's Tragedies.

A London cable message recently announced the death, under painful circumstances, of a Melbourne lady who had just arrived in England. The London Times of August 7th gives the following report of the inquest: — At the Chelsea Town-hall, on Wednesday, the West London Coroner held an inauiry into the circumstances attending the death of Miss Florence Jane Hand ford, age 34, of independent means, who died on the 27th ult at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, the residence of some relatives with whom she was staying. The deceased lady, who was the daughter of the late Mr Charles Handford, an Australian merchant, left Melbourne on May 9th to pay a visit to her friends at Chelsea, and she landed on June 18th. On June 2oth she called on Dr Charles Joseph Harrison, of Rosetti Mansions, Chelsea, and after getting a prescription for indigestion confided to him the secret that she was enceinte, and suggested that he procure an abortion. This he emphatically declined to do, although she offered him a blank cheque for his trouble, and he declined to tell her anyone who would do it for her. On the 22nd nit. she left home, remarking that she might go to town. Later in the same day she called on Dr Harrison in such a condition that it was impossible to move her. The next day she had a miscarriage and, gave birth to twins. Afterwards specialists were called in, and on the 27th she died. She admitted that she had been to a doctor in town and that he had done something to her, but she refused to divulge his name. The medical evidence showed that death was due to an illegal operation. The jury found that death was the result of an abortion unlawfully procured, and that some person or persons unknown had rbeen guilty of wilful murder. The foreman said the jury wished to take some appreciative notice of the unselfishness and Christian humanity shown by Dr Harrison to the i deceased lady.