INQUEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 197, 30 December 1868, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquiry touching the death of Maria Hackett, aged 20, was held at the A 1 Hotel yesterday afternoon, before J. W. S. Coward, Ksq., coroner, and a jury of whom Mr A. Duncan was chosen foreman. Serge mt Pardy conducted the proceedings, and, afier the jury had viewed the body, the following evidence was adduced : — Ellen Catherine Drummond .- I live in St Asaph street, and am in the habit of working in the house next to that where deceased lived. I understood last week that she was ill in bed with a cold. Not being intimate, I did not think of going to see her until on Saturday, whilst at work, I heard her moaning the whole of the day. When Iha I done, at 9 p.m., I went to enquire if I could do anything tor her. I had previously he irJ that she had not had advice, bht Mr Yates, in reply to ray enquiries, told me he had sent for Dr Frankish. I sent up stairs and saw her. She appeared as if she was dying, and complained of her throat. She also said her feet were cold, and I went for a bottle of hot water to put to them. I waited some time to see if Dr Frankish came, but ht not arriving, I went down slairs and told Mr yi'ates that he had better go again, as there |vas danger and he would get into trouble if anything occurred. He went away at once, But, on return said, Dr Frankish had gone to R house in High street. He asked me to stay all night, and I did so. I was present wben Dr Frankish came iv. He pressed de eased to tell him everything, but she only complained of her throat. She had been sick all the time I was with her, and on shewing the dquid to the doctor he said it was blood. He sounded her chest, and then went away, but sent somß medicine which I administered. Deceased wanted something for her throat, and I went in search of some honey, but the shops being closed I could not get it. I had occasion t> go home after 1 1 o'clock, and on returning iv a short time after, I found tbat deceased had expired. By the police : I remember Sergeant Jeffrey coming to Mr Yates' house ou Sunday afternoon, and saw him take possession of the bedding on which deceased had lain. Some of it was stained with blood, an J I thought there was more than usuul in such cases. 1 had my back turned during Sergeant Jeffrey's examination of the room, and did not notice other linen saturated with blool. I did not object to Sergeant Jeffrey taking possession of any of the linen. [ This witne-s gave her evidence in a very reluctant manner, and had to be cautioned several times by the Coroner]. Rose Wood— l am the wife of Thomas Wood, and reside in the house next to that in which deceased died. I knew she had been living with Mr Yates about 15 months. Ido not know in what cap icity, but she was always understood to be his housekeeper. On Monday week, she called to me through the partition dividing the houses, and said she was ill. She did not say what wai the matter with her, but in the evening I went to ace her, and she said she had taken some pill*. Next morning, I called to her through the partition, and asked how she was, to which she replied, "no better." I went to see her again in the evening, and that was the last time I saw her alive. She did not appear altered since my first visit, but I told her to have medical advice. She died about eleven o'clock on Saturday night, but before her death, I noticed a great alteration in her voice. I should not have ree ignised it as hers, had I uot known such to have been the case. By the police : I heard deceased moaning very heavily several times on Friday and Saturday, but she had a habit of doing so when her head ached. I did not notice any Mood about deceased's room when I went to visit her. Ido not know on what term 3 she lived with Mr Yates. Thos. Yates haying been duly cautioned by the Coroner 'thaiftill tvidlehce he gave would

be taken down in writing and might be used against him; said: I am a shoemaker, and reside in Colombo street. Deceased has lived with me as - housekeeper about fourteen montbs. I had known her a short time previous to that. She first complained of illness on Monday week. She said she had pains in her chest. Previous to that she had taken some steel drops, which she had sent me for. I obtained them from Gould and Co.'s, chemists, and gave them into her possession. I know that she took the drops because she was pregnant. .-he had told me so, and said she want, d to procure abortion so as not to bring disgrace upon her parents. It was almost a week after taking the steel drops that she first complained of pains. I did not tell the chemist what I wanted the drops for. Subsequently to obtaining the drops I went for other medicine for her for the same purpose. I wmt to Lyttelton and obtained it from Mrs Bayfield's.. On returning home I put it on the mantel-piece, and deceased took it up 6tairs. I also went for some other medicine for her to Mr Wallace's in the Triangle. It comprised pills and steel drops. I did not tell any of these persons what I wanted the medicine for, although deceased had told me each time that it was to procure abortion so that she might go home without disgrace to her friends. All these medicines were obtained on a prescription which I had obtained from Mr Mottley of Lyttelton. When I applied to him for it, I_told him that I had had connection with deceased, and that the medicine was to procure abortion. I told him deceased had threatened to cut her throat if I did not get her something for that purpose. He considered a short time, and then gave me the prescription. I had. previously asked him if he could keep a secret, and he replied "Yes, we medical men can always keep secrets." The prescription was not signed, and I subsequently destroyed it at the request of deceased. All tbe medicines werp procured on Mr Mottley's prescriptions. The reason I went so mauy times was, that deceased said a little more would do, and continued to threaten to kill herself if I did not go. I did not go for any medical assistance before applying to Dr Prankish. Deceased would not let me, and also refused to have a nurse. It was on Saturday last that I^flrst went to Dr Frankish. I did not tell him the true nature of the case. The instructions with the steel drops were to take from ten to fifteen, but after the first dose, she told me she had taken twenty. I afterwards destroyed all the medicines at her request. By the Coroner : 1 had two separate prescriptions from Mr Mottley. I procured the second after I had obtained medicine on the first, and deceased had taken some of it. When I applied for it, I told him what effect the first medicine had produced, and that deceased complained of pains in her aide. I never had criminal connection with deceased except once. Thomas Wallace : I am a chemist and druggist carrying on business in the Triangle. T have dispensed two prescriptions for the witness Thomas Yates, but he had three lots of medicine in all. The first was about sixteen days ago ; the second, five or six days afterwards ; and the third was in the begining of last week. I produce a copy of each prescription. I was not told, on either occasion, what the medicine was intended for. I never gave Mr Yates any steel drops, none being mentioned in the prescriptions. By the Police: I am conversant with medicines, but could not have told what those I dispensed for Mr Yates were intended for. They might be u«ed for several purposes. I did not copy the prescriptions at the time, but I am certain the copies produced are correct. There was neither name nor date to any of the prescriptions. J. D. Frankish, M.D. : On Saturday last, shortly after 9 pm, Mr Yates came to my house with a request to visit his housekeeper. I enquired the nature of her illness, 'and he said she had been vomiting for two or three days. I went tothe house about ten o'clock and found the deceased dying. 1 told a female who was with her that my services could be of no use, beyond prcecribAg a stimulant, which I did. [The wreness here described the state of deceased, and gave his opinion of what was her illness.] About an hour after I returned home, 1 was informed of deceased's death, and after examining the body, was asked for a certificate for burial, which I refu«ed to give. Complying with a summons, I bave tiiis morning made a post mortem examination of the body. [Witness here described the state of the various organs in detail, and concluded by stating his opinion that death had been caused by an attempt to procure abortion ] This was the whole of the evidence which the police had ready, and Sergeant Pardy asked for an adjournment to enable more to be procured. Information refused to the police had come out in the evidence, and the matter having assumed a more serious aspect than they anticipated the police would like every opportunity to be afforded them for properly sifting the case. It would be necessary to take Mr Mottley's evidence. After considera ion, the Coroner adjourned the enquiry until Thursday next, at 3 p.m. The jurors were bound over, in a penalty of £25 each, to appear then, and on the application of Sergeant Pardy, the Coroner issued a warrant for retaining the witness Yates in custody.