A WOOLSTON TRAGEDY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13417, 15 May 1912, Page 4

A WOOLSTON TRAGEDY.

DRINKING METHYLATED SPIRITS

SORDID DOMESTIC STORY

STRAIGHT TALK BY CORONER

(Special to "The Colonist.")

Christchuroh, May 14

An inquest was opened at the morgue this morning touching the death of a. married woman named Helen Golseombe who wag found dead in an outhouse at the i^ca>r of her dwelling last night. Her .husband, who was on the premises, was arrested for drunkenness and appeared before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., this morning, being remanded. Tho Coroner, Mr. H. W. Bishop, took tho inquest, Senior-Sergt. Riemer, and. Detective Gibson representing the police. Dr. Irving said that externally on. deceased ho found an old scar on the forehead, and a good deal of blood abouttho face, which had come from the lower lip, where there was the indent of three, teeth, showing.that she had had a blow there. Probably tho blow had been on the chin in tho."front. On opening th« body witnoss found deceased had had pneumonia on the right side. Tha heart was not very healthy, there being some fatty degeneration. * On opening the. stomach there was a distinct smoll oi: methylated spirit. The bowels wcro empty and anaemic. The- reet of the organs seemed healthy. In her state? of health, ifsho had had a fall, or a blow on tho chin, it would have been enough, to cause her death through heart failure.

In answer to the- Coroner, I)r Irving, said that tho constant drinking o£ methylated spirits made people mad. It also sot up fibroid degeneration ot the organs, in this case this was not very marked.

In answer to Senior-Scrgt Rcimer. witness said a sudden blow would have rendered deceased unconr-eious, especially if, as ho believed, it was on the) chin. The Coroner interjected: Tile drunken, disreputable, degenerate of a husbandwas before- me this morning. Senior-Sergt. Keimnr asked if the injiiri€s could have boon the result of a fall, and Detective- Gibson explained, for thei doctor's benefit, that deceased. was found in a closet jammed tightly across from wall to wafi, with her head under her. The space was narrow — about three feet. The Coroner: As if she had been put thcro?

Detective- Gibson: Yes.

Dr Irving continued that he did not think the marks could have been, made by a fall. Frank Goseombe, of Woolston, a labourer, deposed that he lived in St. John's road, Woolston, and the« woman was his wife. Detective Gibson : He hasn't seen the body yet? The Coroner: Take him to see it now. Detective Gibson.. Come on. The Coroner: No liner feelings to consider there-. The man was taken to view the body. On returning ho continued that deceased was about 38 years old or so. They lived together and both drank. Th« Coroner: To your shame. Witness said he last .saw his wife on' Monday night between 7 and 8 o'clock. Neither was drunk at that time. Ho was arrested for drimkonnufs. In answer to Detective Gibson witness corrected himself, and said ho did not sco his wife alive on Monday night. Then ho saw. her dead in the closet. Ho saw her on Sunday afternoon—she was "the same as himself." She went outside, and witness did not sloe her aga-ift until between 3 and 4. p.m. yesterday* when lie found her dead in a sitting, posture. The Coroner: That settles the idea. o£ a fall. Witness could not tell how she got onl the floor. He wont at once to the Woolston police station. When he found h«t ho noticed no blood on her face. Witness was not drunk at the time. H-e- got drunk afterwards, and was locked ur?~ He had no row with his wife, but thetv had some words on Sunday. Ha con let not say about what. Both had been.drinking. He did not strike her. When, deceased went outside she was not too. drunk to look after hersoif. She iiad no fall that lie- knew of.

Ju answer to the Coroner witness &ai'i ho had been drinking methylated spirits,. Both had been drinking it--. The Coroner: Why do you drink it-

Witness: "Because 1 was mad 1 stiu-p-ose. I suppose we drank it because it was cheap." Witness bought a bottle yesterday, and had it on him when arrested.

The Coroner: We'll have to have it stopped if it is to b-ecome a standard drink in Christ-clmrch.

To Scnior-Sergt, Reimer : A Mr;-. G-os-well was present when they w-c-re quaalrcdling on Sunday. The Coroner: "I don't think there's anything m-o.ro to b(> got out o>' this drunken, disreputable crowd." 'There would have to be v.n adjournment.

Detective Gibson paid that tii. 1 ?-alo oli methylated spirits should bo stopped. The Coroner said something would have to be done as numberless cases had cropped up. The- people had learnt that it was a cheap drink. After tho inquest had been adjourned until next day at 4 o'clock, in th<~ Magistrate's Court, a constable told tha Coroner that tlir^ •■' ■•■■■> lrlior:: the. parties had lived was i i- ••!'>!> shock. Mrs, Goswell, an 01. , ■ . Had also been drinking .. .vi/: .. ; .-.J.-I. '-tr, he bo licived.