DEATH OF MRS CAPENESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15788, 12 June 1913, Page 7

DEATH OF MRS CAPENESS

SUGGESTION OF SUICIDE. " Pr«» Allocution —B* T«legr»ph—Copyright MELBOURNE, June 1 .1. (Received June 11, at 8.20 p.m.), At the inquest on. tho body of Mrs Capeness, who died 011 April ?9, evidence was led to show that the deceased nad contemplated committing suicide. She had remarked once : " Don't be surprised if you hear the worst .in the morning." One woman testified that a year ago the took some poison from the deceased, who said She had no desire to live. Another woman gave similar evidence. The inquest has been further ad;-*/uTijc?d.

111 the early hours of the morning of April 29 Mrs Capenecs, aged 35 years, who rixsided with her husband in Oxford Chambers, Bourko street, Melbourne, was found Jyin# in a right-of-way at tho rear of the premises. it was alleged that She had walked 1 in her sleep through a window on a landing near tho third storey._ She was removed to tho Melbourne Hospital, where eho died soon after admission. On May 16 the coroner (Dr Cole) conducted an inquiry into the circumstances surroumiing the woman's deatih Mr J. L Kidrtio (of Messns llaynea, Dickson, aud Kiddle) appeared for George Samud Capeness (deceased's lmsbahd), and Mr G. I l '. Matthews (of Messrs Williams and Matthews) for Mr ii. R (Smith, the proprietor of Oxford Chambers.

Dr James Joachim Nicholas, a resident surgeon at tho Melbourne Hospital, said that when the deceased was admitted she was in a condition of extreme collapse. The right femur was fractured, and there was a fracturo of the left tibia. There were superficial abrasions on the loft shoulder and back, 'lhere were also extensive injuries to the bonce of the shoulder joint, tliero being a dislocation and probably a fracture. Deceased never rallied, and died one hour and a-half Liter. There was a slight bruiso on tho right sid'e of the face, but he could not say how that might havo been caused, unless sho struck 6omo obstruction on the way to the ground. George Samuel Capeness, commercial traveller, stated: "Deceased and I have been marripd seven years, and have no ohildren. About S o'clock on April 29 I was awakened by the night watchman, who told me that my wife was down at tho basement of Oxford Chambers, having fallen, he said, from the window. When I 6aw my wife I said to her, ' Whatever ha 6 happened!" She shook her head and 6aid, 'I do not know.' She said, 'Lift ftp my head so that I can get ray breath.' I did so, and asked her again had happened, but received the same reply. She was taken fco'the Melbourne Hospital, aud died while I w'as away sending somo telegrams. The last time I saw her alive wa6 at about a quarter-past 10 o'clock on the previous night. She. was then in bed, and had been suffering from neuralgia. Wo were not living on the best of terms, as I had formed an attachment for a young girl that she knew kit. That had been going on for two years. She appeared l to bo troubled about -this at times, but at other periods she did not seem to mind it. Sho never threatened to do away with herself that I know of. Sho was a somnambulist, and walked in her sleep on an average onco a week. Tho Coroner: Do you wish the court to believe that she walked in her sleep on this partioular night?— Yes. Continuing, Witness saidl: " She has a brother in Oeelong, and he has showed mo a letter that he received from her. That letter stated that he was not to be surprised if anything happened to her, and that, some piotures wcro to be sent to his wifo."

To Sir Kidd'e: My ( wife was of a religious turn of mind.' Her sister, Msg Young, and her niece used to walk in their sleep. It was my practice to lock the door of the bedroom and put tho key under my_ pillow. I did that, as I had found my wife at tho door walking in her sleep. On April 28 I must havo forgotten to look tho door, as tho key wjus in it when I was awakened next morning.

The Coroner: Did your wife know this young woman with whom you say you formed an attachment?— Yes, and was very friendly with her Mr Kiddle: Have you ever falkedl to your wifo about this young woman?—My wife frequently spoke to me about her, and asked mo to give her up. The Coroner: And what did you say?—l said I would try, hut I found that tho attraction was too ffreat. The young woman used to visit my wife at Oxford Chambers, and tho three t>f us went to Tasmania together last year. It was at my wife's request that the girl accompanied us. My wife told mo at times that she would leave me, but that was when she was in a temper. She used to get in a temper over little things. To tho Coroner: I havo been away for week-ends ; with this young woman. My wifo used to accuse mo of this, but she did not definitely know of it. Charles Henry Turner, oarctaker of Normanby Chambers, in Collins street, deposed tlint about seven minutes to 5 o'clock in the morning of April 29 ho heard .sounds of a scuffle. Then he heard someone running, away. A few moments aftenvards he heard a tremendous scream. His wifo also heard it, and she called out. He then heard a fall on the '.roil roof, followed by another fall. He opened tho front room window, and heard crics of "I'm dying." Someone called out " What is up?" hut he could not say who it was that spoke. The noise of sciiffling lasted about nvo minutes. About a. fortnight or three weeks previously lie and his wife heard screaming and scuffling. The Coroner remarked that as the evidence had placed a somewhat different complexion on the case, he would adjourn tho inquiry sine die in order that further evidence might bo obtained.