CORONER'S INQUEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5166, 12 June 1891, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

(By Telegraph.) WANG-ANUI, June 11. The adjourned inquont into the cireumBtanoos Burrounding tho doath of Emily Kato Bpicor, was hold m the courthouse to-day, before Mr Lifliton, acting eoronor, and a jury of six- Sergeant-Mo jor Anderson conducted tho case for the police, and Mr David Hogg watched tho proceedings on behalf of Mrs Peynmn, who was present m oharge of tho gaoler. Annio Oockburn, mothor of deceased, dopoeoil that she web prosont when SergoantMajor Andorson took possession of tho three bottles from deceased's boxoo at a boarding houso m Uuyton street, also two letters from Mrs Peymnn, stating that hor daughter was ill and wished to boo her. A. J. Parsons stated that decoaeed waa employed by him o» a domestic servant, and was wellconductodin everyway. Decoasod left his service on Tuoeday, 25th ult. A cabman deposed to taking doccasod's boxoß to Mrs Jupp'a. Mrs Jupp remombored tho previous witinge, but having no vacanoy, sho loft ihor luggage to bo called for, but npvpr did so. Henry Chnrlos Moohan doposed to kooping company with deceased for fivo months provions to her death ; also to hor complaining of being ill on Sunday 24th ulfc. Ho did not see hor till Saturday 30th. Kocoiving a lettor ho wont to Mrs Toyman's, and sow decoasod thorp, whon sho told him nho had had n mis eama/jo Ho noxfc saw hor on Sunday Slot, when m Ld<« i;t Mrs Peymnn'a. Ho wont for Drlnnes, and tlii'iijji^fc up with hor until b!io died. Ho did not know that was m tho family way boforo tho mipciirritigo. Witnoes' intimacy wit!) hor had been of such a naturo us wa>i likely to loud to ouch a rooult. Dcconood had no roanon to bolinvo that witness did not intend to marry her. Had he known deceased's condition, ho was prepared to uiurry hor ot onco.

After the adjournment, Meehan being re, called, stated that he tried to procure lodging for the girl Bpicer at a hotel. She complained of tho bed at Peyman's being uncomfortable. B. M. Gattcnby, chemist, dfiposod that , deceased came to hia shop on the Bth April, and procured a tonic. 1 Dr Binoe deposed us follows : — I called at the residence of Mrs Peyinanon Sunday, 31st May to see deceased. Mrs Peyman soid that the sick woman was m tho house and had been ill one woek- The illness had commenced with diarrhoea and vomiting. In the middle of tho week deceased hud had a miscarriage. Sho aaid deceased was a married woman. Sho attributod tho miscarriago to a Btrain m going up St. John's Hill. Examined decoaeed and adopted tho necoasary measures to rolieye her. Before examination my bubwere aroused that the oause assigned was nofc the true one. I told Mm Poyman that the girl was sorioußly ill, and that her husband must be written to. On Wednesday, tho girl being worse, I wrote to her supposod husband, after finding that it had not been dons. On Thursday she was vory muoh worse. She told mo she was not a married woman. I then asked her if this was brought od. She nodded her head. I then decided to have n consultation with Dr Earl, and he agreed to consult; Dr Tripe and Dr Connolly. Dr Connolly examined deceased. Mrs Peyman gave Dr Connolly much the same account as sho had given to mo. Deceased toldDr Connolly m my hearing that on Sunday, 28th May, Mrs Peyman performed an operation on hor at Poyman'o house with tho object of procuring a miscarriage. Dr Tripe took the dying deposition of the girl between 4 and 5 o'clock, Mrs Po.yman not being present as deceased was not m a fit state to bo cross-examined. Shortly aftor this Mrs Peyman was arrested. Tho girl Spicer was placed m charge of a married counlo. I left, at about 6 a.m. I did not sco hor alivo again. The first day on wbioh I saw the deceased she was weaving a wedding ring. When she told mo afterwards that she waß single, blio said that Mrs Peyman had lent her the ring. After her deposition had been taken decoaood said, " Perhups I shall die to.night", emphasising the last word. On the evening after the death of deceased, by direction of the coroner, I made a post mortem examination, assisted by other medical men. No mnrkß of violence were found on the body. I consider that death was caused by peritonitis resulting from puncture of the womb caused by tho use of an instrument. In thiß case the instrument could not have been used for any othor purpose than procuring miscarriago. It would be exceeding by unlikely that deceased would have sufficient Bkill to perform such iin operation on herself. In my opinion tho puncture was not Bolf-inflicted. Deceased atated that when Mrs Peyman performed the operation ehe charged her £o. Tho Court then adjourned till 10.30 tomorrow morning.