INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 17

INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Thursday afternoon by Mr E. H. Carew, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr H. Bain was foreman, touching the* death of Mrs Madeline O'T'oole. Patrick O'Toole, compositor, husband of the deceased, said they had been married on the 16th July last. Deceased was then a widow, and her name was Jeffs. She was 69 years of age when they were married, and she was then in good health. -She was unwell about the beginning of August, and Dr Roberts was called in to attend ber. She was a hard drinker, and had told him that she .had beon drinking since she was 19 years of age. Witness could not keep the drink from her. Witness became ecquainted wxth deceased by replying to an advertisement for a partner, and four days afterwards they were married. Had ho known she wa3 given to drink he would not have married her. Dr Roberts only 3aw her once. As soon as she knocked of£ whisky by the doctor's advice she took to her bed. Dr Cran, who was afterwards called in, advised witness to send her to the hospital. He applied to the house surgeon to Lave her admitted, but was told there was no vacant bed. Dr Cran saw her again four or five days ago, and had seen her twice since. The last time he saw her he said that she could not live 24 hours. Dr Cran told witness that he was a medical officer, could act as a medical doctor, and could give a certificate of death. He told witness this the first visit he made tor the house. From the fust Dr Cran had no hopes of her recovery. lie had a servant looking after deceased the whole time that she waa ill. She was incapable of taking food for some days before she died. Deceased died about 7 or 8 o'clock on Tuesday night. Mrs Goldhammer was present when she died. Deceased did not make a will. She had property at Bangiora which was bringing her in 8s 6d a week. To Sergeant Gilbert: Dr Roberts refused to come a second time, because deceased was drunk when he came. The doctor said it was a hopeless case. She had gone out of doors and brought in whisky after the doctor saw her. He provided her with all nourishment possible. The Sunday after Dr Roberts saw her she wa3 drinking again. That was her last heavy, " burst." Deceased had not been able to look after herself for a fortnight, and he had two girls looking after her. Since she took to her bed he kept spirits away from her, and ha thought that the want of them had lulled her. What spirits she had received he had given her. He told Mr Jeffs that the last request of Dr Cran was to keep nothing from her, as she was bound to die within 24 hours. Dr Cran. told him that it was no use going for any more doctors, as he could give a certificate. Dr Cran' never suggested anything except sending deceased to the hospital. To the Foreman: He understood that Dr Cran was house surgeon at th& hospital. In answer to the Coroner, Sergeant Gilbert said that Mr Cran was only a medical student. To the Foreman: Deceased had a thimbleful of brandy or whisky four or five times a day. William James Cran, medical student, knew the deceasedy-and had attended her twice. He had a casual acquaintance with the last witness. O'Toole used to lodge in the same house as witness, and asked him about a fortnight ago to go and see his wife, as she was very bad. He never led him to believe he was a medical practitioner. He went partly professionally ana partly because O'Toole was in poor circumstances. Dr Roberta's evidence was, in effect, that ha was called in by Mr O'Toole to see deceased ou the 13th August, when she desired him to give her something to produce a dislike for drink. Witness recognised that she was suffering from' chronic alcoholism, and prescribed suitable medicine. He informed her husband that the best thing he could do was to keep liquor out of the house, and take out a prohibition oides against deceased. This last Mr O'Toole did not like to do. Witness considered that deceased's, case was one of hopeless chronic alcoholism. She was not at that time suffering from anything else. Mrs Goklhammer also gave evidence. The jury returned the following verdict: — "We find that deceased suffered from bronchitis and chronic alcoholism." They added this rider: "We also consider Mr O'Toole was guilty of grave neglect in not calling in a duly qualified practitioner after the deceased wa3 refused admission to the hospital."

There are 5000 women engaged in- commercial pursuits in Sydney, 17,000 in factories, and 10,000 connected with the various trades and professions. At Clinton on Monday, 12th, Mr M'Cracken, who has been a clerk m the Railway department there for tha last three years, was, on the eve of his departure for Cayersham, entertained by his friends at a social. During the evening Mr M'Cracken was the recipient of several handsome presents. From the general public he received a set of gold studs and a travelling rug, and from the members of his Bible class an album and Bible. In the afternoon a large number of his fellow-employees met in the booking office and presented him with a complete set of Sir Walter Scott's works. Mr M'Cracken was very popular with, the Clinton people, and his removal is regretted from all qim-ipvp.