INQUESTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2288, 6 January 1898, Page 21

INQUESTS.

A woonaa named .Ellen Birry, who had liveol for rn^ny years with * man named John Harding, their house bsing in King street, died suddenly, on Sunday evening. Harding and she left their home about 20 minutes to 12 to have dinner at a friend's place in C*nongate street. They went as far as High street in & tramcar, but the woman, instead of following Harding, returned home, and complained to a. man named Benjamin Smith, who was in the house at the time, of being ill. She went* to bed, bub was unable to speak. * On Harding'* return home at about 7 o'clock in the evening he ttlephoned to the hospital for a doctor. A. lady doctor arrived at the house about half-past; 7 o'clock, but ths woman died a few minutes before her arrival. The deceased was a native of Cork, and had been over 20 years in the colony. She was of intemperate habits, and moreover suffered from asthma and had lately bsen camplaining of pains in the chest. Au inquest was held on the body on Monday, and k verdict of "Djath from natural causes" was returned.

An inquest was held on Monday at the Crescent Hotel, Mansfordtown, before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six (of whom Mr William Goldie was chosen foreman), touching the death of a child named Ernest Arnold Clark, who died from injuries received by falling ioto a tub of scalding water on January 1. Margaret Clark, wife of Alexander Clark, deposed that the body shown to the jury was that of their son Ernest Arnold, aged two years and cine months. About 9 p. m. oa December 3L she was going to give the child a b&th in tha kiichen, and she put a small kettleful of hot water into an iron tub and went to get seme cold water, leaving the deceased on the sofa, and his siste-, aged four years old, also in the room. While getting the water close to the back door witness beard a cry and ran back into the kitchen, and saw the deceased in the tub, his feet being oatside. The child had all bis clothes on. Witness took him out, and called for her neighbour, Mrs Simmons, who came with her daughter. She also sent for Dr Canningharoe, who came and attended to the child. Am there was a change in the child the follow, ing morning she sgain sent for tbe doetar, who came, but the deceased took a fit and died. Dr Cunninghams deposed that oa reaching the house he found the child had extendva scalds down the back and along the shoulders. Witness dressed the injuries and had the child otherwise attended to. The scalds were very severe, and the child was of a nervous constitution. Witness visited the child again Dexfc morning, and found tho dressings had been disturbed a little. H« re-dressed the child, who shortly after look a St and died very rapidly in witoess's presence. The causa of death wag shock from scalding. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from ehook from accident il scalding.