SUDDEN DEATH AT MOTU IKO VALLEY.

Colonist, Volume XXXV, Issue 7227, 25 January 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUDDEN DEATH AT MOTU IKO VALLEY.

(From ' The Colonist,' Jan. 6th.) A somewhat sudden death occurred on Friday morning last (New Year's Day). It appears that Mrs Corlett, wife of J. J Corlett, landlord of the Motupiko Inn, who had been .feeling unwell during the night and the early part of the morning, was found shortly afterwards lying dead on the floor of her bedroom. The matter was reported to the police, and an inquest was held on Saturday, Jan. 2, before W. H. Phillips, junr., Esq., J.P., and a jury of whom Mr W. B. Thomson was foreman, when the following evidence was adduced : — John James Corlett, being sworn, stated that on the evening of the 31st he was away from home, and on returning he found his wife in a low, weak state of health, and that she had some time ago met with an accident, Bince which she had become very nervous. She continued ill all night, and in the morning early he obtained the assistance of a neighbor, Mra Fogden, who remained with her up to the time of her death, which took plaoe about 10 a.m.

Mrs Fogden deposed that she was asked by Mr Corlett to come to his wife on the morning of the Ist January. She found her complaining of pains in her bowels and back, and was very cold. She applied hot flanne s and turpentine, and got her some hot tea. She (deceased) then appeared to rally a little, and said she would try and sleep, but on returning to the room after a few minutes absence, she found deceased out of bed lying onjthe floor, apparently in a dying condition. She at once lifted her into bed, when she immediately expired

Walter R. Pearless, a duly qualified medioal practitioner, on being sworn, stated that he had ihat morning made an examination of the body of the deceased, and could not find any marks cf violence on the body whatever. After hearing the evidenoe of the witnesses, he stated there was but little doubt that the deceased was suffering from congestion of the bowels and kidneys, the immediate cause of death, however, being synoope, i.e., failure of the hearts aotion. A verdiot was returned in accordance with the medical testimony. The deoeased, who was a generous and kind hearted woman, will be maoh missed, especially by travellers and others who frequent the house when travelling to and from the Buller and West Coast.