A HURRIED BURIAL.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13644, 8 February 1913, Page 4

A HURRIED BURIAL.

CORONER'S INTERROGATIONS,

BtranSe WELLIKgton case,

LUnited Press Association.]

Wellington, Feb. 7

A strange discovery was made at the [ Wellington Hospital this afternoon, ;, when tho Coroner, Dr. McArthur, S.il. '■ was to have held an inquest toucliing the death of tha woman Jessie Holt, also known a-s Airs. Edith Richards, who was removed to tho institution after being found in a serious condition at a house in Lonio street. She died on Wednesday night. This afternoon the Ooronor went into the morgue to view the body, but it was not there. Ho then proceeded to tlie room where the police and the witnesses were waiting, and. announced that the body could not be found. Dr. Woodlioitso, senior house surgeon, was eumiriohed, and on the Coroner inquiring what .had become of tho body, said lie had given authority, for a certificate as to tho cause of death to be signed. Dr. McArthur: Who signed its' ! Dr. Woodhouso: Dr. Fra«er; but I j am to blame, because I told him lie; could give a certificate to the effect that;: death was due to an accident. ! Dr. McArthur: Well, this is «.n ex- I traordinarycaso. This wonian i* P 11* i down as behrg married in my i-jport, and in the newspapers she is said v> ; singla. Tho woman is said t-o liavs j died as the result of a certain happen* jug, and is said to have taken Jvso'There was every reason why the body should not have been taken away before ; •I gave a burial certificate. Dr. "Woodhonso said tho body tf«s i faken away from the hospital tlitf morning, arid buried in the aftenioon. j Sergt. Rutledge stated that tJio *- ji ceased had been living with a man ra" i; cd ."Richards and was going under thfl •] namo of Mta: Edith Richards. She alK> jj had go»r> under otht'r names. . ' Dr". AicArtiiur: .Who way so r.nxwl" ; U> bnry.h«r; J Dr. WoodiuJiise gave the uamo of tW j undertaker who furnished the i'lusoraj. \ Dr.AlcArthur: Of cour^; but wlio j gavo in-s;triH'tio:is to bury hur? | Dr. AVi;od:K)»,so; "The rehttiv-c'f fr"r: ;; icd her." Ho addod that the hcspitaj ? «".ut)]oriti(\s rwuivod a mrss^-iiy J J the pniico cwuld not find anything to j lead tlicm to riur.pt-Rt t.hnt the d^-oasw ( had m«de a-way with itcrself, therefor | he g.-.-vo r.uthoiity i'or tliodgni;^ <>it'f <'crtiiic!!to tJ3.lt death was duo to "-cc!' 1 Dr. McAvthur: Woll, we h«vo iicthme to do i\ith file qnt'^tioa of criminP-ll^' Wo- want to .Tr;c^rtsi:i ti'.-> oircuwstanf 09 ■ which brought about t!w dcatli. I ciii't f;ay thaf bot-ausj) c ])orsn;s <s!cs«| - ■:-o~and-f:;;> you cdii fiv-," a {vrciiic^o °- doath." ' Dr. Wc'ldhf^^o: Not v.tiM ; ncvvT d-'iVic "o, btrfc wiit'ii I gtrv t!ii:i ji)^' JKagcl thought tli- police 'w-nnkl J:2H ; 1 !iot!ii:ig iurtiio:- to do irith her. \ - Dr. ar-:kcd why he lird ■»-" J boon eoHKiiltod. . 1 ! .. Dr. Woodhn^o: I told_t:vMn dir-t^1" | :V]>rSSS:hur -"TlSrh^ bron^J j uiulu" Liutv ovur t!i^, brt 1. ■'•3«t£, f on tho <fc<:torV; ]K\vt. Sci:rbo:ly li:»n fisiii^ t-hi-r; ni>; somebody 3i?-s ," | in a hurry to gsi: liorout of tho Tli-> inqwpsfc"wi!l be gone on !t!l morrow morning. I