THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6064, 30 December 1897, Page 3

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

THE INQUEST. ' £P_.a Pbess Association.! AUCKLAND, Dec. 29. The inquest touching the death of Susan Harriet Campbell M'Callum, formerly of Dunedin, was commenced to-day. Further evidence was as follows: — * "" Inspector Hickson said that he did not hear about the affair until the body was abouttobe buried, andthe person implicated was then clear out of the colony. He did not blame the nurse, but he thought that the police should have been informed earlier. Mrs Garrett, at whose place Dr Orpen lodged, deposed that the doctor left about one o'clock on Christmas Day, and told her that he wa3 going for a trip for his health. He did not say when he would be back. He had been talking for some time about taking a trip. His departure was very sudden. He called witness and asked her if a boy could take his boxes to the boat. Dr Hope Lewis stated that Dr A. Challinor Purchas, who had been called in for consultation by I r Orpen, had asked him (witness) to examine the patient and see whether an operation would be justified. They decided not to do it, as the woman was practically dying. Mrs Metcalfe, re-called, produced medicine and pills, and deceased's bank book. Dr A. Challinor Purchas deposed that he had several patients at the private hospital in Hepburn Street. Dr Orpen called him in consultation, stating that the young woman was suffering from gastritis. Dr Orpen then called him on one side and Baidthat she had had a miscarriage ten days before, and that he (Dr Orpen) had not seen her till five days afterwards. Witness performed the slight operation of curetting. He afterwards had suspicions, and asked the woman if she had been tampered with. She made an evasive answer, but from her manner his suspicions were strengthened ; still they were only suspicions. The matter weighed heavily on his mind and he took legal advice as to what he should do. That advice was that he was cautioned against making any statement on the slight information that he had. That advice was given as the only means he had of placing himself in a right position, and of defending the nurse. He had frequent reports as to the woman's condition from Nurse Ogilvie on the day of her death. On Friday he told the nurse that the woman's depositions should be taken. Constable Hutchinson, of the Parnell police station, deposed that he received the depositions of the woman, dated Dec. 24, about 5 p.m. on Dec. 26, from A. J. Allom, J.P., and took a cab at once and drove to Inspector Hickson's residence. He read the depositions, in which the woman alleged that aa operation had been performed on her by Dr Orpen in his office, Victoria Arcade. In the deposition she stated that she was a single woman passing under the name of Mra Sparks. Albert J. Allom, J.P., deposed that on the night of Dec. 24 he had been' called to the private hospital, Hepburn Street, and had taken the depositions of the woman M'Callum. He did not think it was necessary to at once communicate with the police, as he did not wish to act hastily. Dr Bakewell was detailing the results of a post - mortem examination when the inquiry was adjourned till to-morrow. AUCKLAND, Dec. 30. At the adjourned inquest to-day on the woman M'Callum, Drs Bakewell and Scott, who made the post-mortem examination, deposed that there was a punctured wound, resulting, they believed, from the use of an instrument, ancl that this caused great • inflammation. Dr Bakewell said that I medical men were constantly bein g pestered by wom«n to perform illegal operations. He had to turn two women out of his liouse last Aveek who persisted in worrying him. Inspector Hickson said he had evidence ■ that Dr Orpen took a passage by the mail steamer. ______ _________