THE DYING DEPOSITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6065, 31 December 1897, Page 3

THE DYING DEPOSITIONS.

[Per Press Associations 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, resiilting, they believed, from the use of an instrument, and that this caused great inflammation. Dr Bakewell said that medical men were constantly being pestered by wonifin to perform illegal operations. He had to turn two women ont of his house last week who persisted in worrying him. Inspector Hickson said he had evidence that Dr Orpen took a passage by the mail steamer. Thomas Henderson, manager of the Union Steamship Company, deposed that Dr Orpen left by the Alameda for San Francisco. He booked as Arthur Herbert. He took a steerage passage. Saw him leave. Little, undertaker, deposed to the removal of the body. He did not know anything about any suspicious circumstances until Sunday, when he sent to Dr Orpen to get a death certificate, and found that Orpen was gone. The inquest was adjourned till tomorrow. The following is the text of the dying depositions of the young woman M'Callum : — " The deposition of Susan Harriet Campbell M'Callum, taken at the private hospital, Hepburn Street, Auckland, where deponent is lying dangerously ill, Dec. 24, 1897 — This deponent being duly sworn saith as . follows :— My name .is Susan Harriet Campbell M'Calluin. I am a single woman. I am known here as Mrs Sparks. My birthplace is Port Chalmers. It is about twelve months since I went to live with Mrs Steele at Kemuera. After that I was at Smith's, of Avondale. Latterly I have been living at Mrs Baten's, in Vincent Street, Auckland. Then I went to live with Mrs Allworthy, housekeeper to Mr Eeid, of Motutapu. I have been lodging with Mrs Metcalfe, in Haydn Street, Auckland, for about the last three months. I saw Dr Orpen about two months ago. He gave me some pills. I took them twice, a day for about a week. They had no effect. (Witness here stated that she then went to Dr Orpen again, and he performed an operation). After this L felt as if I were going to faint. I walked home. This operation was performed by Dr Orpen at his office, Coombe's Arcade, Queen Street. On the Saturday before last I had a miscarriage. That would be on Dec. 11. The operation was performed on the previous Thursday, Dec. 9. I was very ill on Dec. 11. Dr Orpen came to see me at Haydn Street on the following Monday, Dec. 13, and has been to see me every day since, sometimes twice a day. I was admitted here on Wednesday last, Dec. 22, at 8 p.m. Dr Orpen came to see me here yesterday twice. He came at ten in the morning, and in the afternoon met DrPurchas here. Dr Orpen has been to see me here three times to-day. Dr Purchas has also been to see me to-day. If anything happens to me, will you communicate with my father, who is the Harbourmaster at Dunedin. I would like my body to be sent home. I I am making this statement because I think it probable that I may die soon. I have j some money in the Auckland Savings Bank, and Mrs Metcalfe has my book. My father will settle my expenses. — Susan Harriet Campbell M'Callum, her X mark." A footnote to the deposition stated that i deceased was too weak to sign her name, so. could only make her mark. Mr Allom j attested the statement.