STRANGE DISCOVERY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 8 February 1913, Page 5

STRANGE DISCOVERY

A WOMAN'S DEATH. BODY INTERRED HURRIEDLY. THE CORONER MAKES REMARKS. (By Telegraph —l'm* A ssoijal ion.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. A strange discovery was made alike Wellington Hospital this afternoon, when the Coroner (Dr MeArtlmr, S.M.) was to have held an inquest touching the death of the | woman Jessie Holt, also Known as Mi\s Richards, who was removed to the institution after being found in ' a serious condition at a house, in Lome ' street. She died en Wednesday night. This afternoon the Coroner went to the morgue to vien- the body, hub it was not there. He then proceeded to the room when the police and witnesses were waiting, and announced that the liody could not be found, i Dr Woodhouse, senior house -surgeon, was summoned, and on the Coroner inquiring what hud become of the body, ho said ho had given authority for a certificate as. to the cause of death to be signed. Dr McArthur: Who signed it r Dr Woodhouse: Dr, Eraser; but L am to blame, because J told him 'he could give a certificate to the oli'ecc that death was due to an accident. Dr McArthur: Well, this is an extraordinary case. This woman lias been put down as being married in my report, and in the newspapers she is said to ho single. The woman is said to have died as the result of a certain happening, and is said to have taken lysol. There was every reason why tho body should not have l>een taken 1 away .before Igave a burial certificate. Dr Woodhouse said the body was taken away from the hospital tiiafc morning, and buried in tho afternoon. 'Sergeant Rutledge stated that, the deceased had been living with a- man naniw.l Richards, ami was going under the name of Mrs .Edith Richards, j She also had gone under other names. Dr.McArtliur: Who was so anxious to bury her? Dr Woodhouse gave the name of the undertaker who furnished the funeral. Dr McArthur: Of. course ; hut who gave instructions to bury her? Dr Woodhouse: The relatives her! He added that the hospital authorities received a message that the police could not find anything to lead them .to .expect, that deceased made away with herself. Therefore, he gave authority for the signing of a certificate that death was due to accident. Dr McArthur: Well, we have nothing to do with the question of criminality. We , want to ascertain the circumstances which brought about death. Yon can't say that because a person dies of so and so you can give a certificate of death? I- i.Dr Woodhoiuse : Not at all! We have never done so ; but when I got this message T thought, the police - would have nothing further to do with !; her. [ 'Dr McArthur asked why he had nut .been consulted. | Dr Woodhouse: T told them distinctly there must be an inquiry into . this. _| Dr McArthur: There* has been some . undue hurry over this; but I don't say on the doctors' part." Somebody - has been fixing this up. Somebody has been in a hurry to get her out |of the road. The inquest, will J -.e gene - on with to-morrow morning.