INQUEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11922, 21 December 1900, Page 5

INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Pelichet Bay Hotel concerning the death of Annie Dallas, or Cra-wford, as her name would appear to be from the evidence given by the Chinaman with whom she was living. Deceased, whoso body was found on the beach near Logan's Point, was a woman about 35 years of a-go, and the evidence indicates that she was subject to fits ot mental aberration. The inquest was held by Mr C. C. Graham (coroner) and a jury of six, of whom Mr George Driver was chosen foreman.

Lizzie Ban-owman, residing in Stafford street, said she was a domestic servant. She knew deceased, and saw her body on Wednesday. Deceased was a single woman, and resided with a Chinaman in Stafford street. They had left there about six or eight weeks, but where they went to witness could not say. "Witness last saw decea-sed alive four weeks ago last Saturday. She seemed all right then, but down-spirited. She said she could not get a house, and made no complaints of ill-treat-ment of any sort. She seemed to be annoyed at being put out of the house.

Cecelia Wood, residing in Stafford street, said sho was a married woman. She Tecognised the body as that of Annie Dallas, whom she had known for about 11 years. Witness saw deceased about a fortnight ago in Princes street, when' sho said she had not her train faro to Ha-ve-nsbourne, where she was then living, and she did not know what she would do if she did not get it. She Eaid she was very lonely, and was miserable. She complained o[ her legs being weak, but did not complain of ill-treatment on tho part of anyone. Witness saw the body on Wednesday. Deceased was addicted to drink. She'smoked cigarettes, but did not smoke opium as far as witness knew. . ' '

Gilbert Leach, 13 years of age, residing at Rothosay, stated that on Tuesday evening he saw deceased, who was living down there with a, Chinaman. She was leaving the. Chinaman's house. She asked witness where he was going and what ho was going to do that night. Witness said ho did not know, and deceased went towards Ravonsbourne. She wore a black bonnet like tho one produced. She was sober when witness saw her,

Ah Yom, the Chinaman with whom deceased had lived, said he was a hawker, and . lived a-t Rothesay. Deceased lived with him for four or five years, and he last saw her alive at 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning, when he left her at home. Witness got home about 11 o'clock that night. She was in bed when ho left, and had been in bed for two days. When he returned the house had been cleaned- up, but deceased was not there. When deceased stopped in bed witness asked her if she was ill, and said he would fetch a doctor; but she said she was not sick, but sleepy. If she did 3iot get beer she became shakdy, and witness used to take beer to her. The umbrella and bonnet produced belonged to deceased. Her mother was in the asylum, and she used to lie sometimes bad in the head. Her name was Crawford, and her step-father's name Dallas.'

Constable O'Sullivan, stationed at Ravensbourne, said about 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday he went along the beach towards Logon's Point. Before reaching the point he found deceased on the beach, the body lying face downwards. Witness searched the body, but found nothing whatever. With the assistance of Constable Daubney and others he removed the body to the Pelichet Bay Hotel. Witness returned to where ho had found the body about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and found the hat produced between the railway line and tho main road, and the umbrella, a few yards nearer the road. The umbrella and hat were found in a direct line between where the body was found and the road. Witness examined the body and foundno marks, except a slight one oh" the eyelid, evidently caused by the gra,vel where she was lying. There would bo no more than four ot five feet of water where she was lying when it was full tide. There was no appearance of any struggle about there. She told witness about a fortnight or three weeks ago that no one seemed disposed to speak to her, and she felt very lonely.

The Coroner said from the statement of the constable there seemed to be nothing to arouse any suspicion of foul play, neither did there seem to be any evidence that the woman hud taken away her own life. The only thing that could lead the jury to have such an opinion was that the mother was in the asylum, and that the woman herself had been bnd in her head at times. He did not know that there was evidence to tell one way or the other, and almost the only thing the jury could do was to find an open verdict.

A verdict that deceased was found drawncd, but thnt there was not sufficient evidence to account for it, was returned.