WOMAN’S DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 9

WOMAN’S DEATH

J EVIDENCE AT INQUEST ( Per Press Association. ) CHRISTCHURCH, May 5. An inquest into the death of Cather- ’ ine Mana Hill, a married woman, of Greymouth, was opened before Mr F. ; F. Reid, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court ; this morning. In conjunction with the ! inquest Ruebena bhirley, of Alpha Avenue, was charged with unlawfully ' using an instrument on Catherine Maria Hill. Mr Sargent appealed for Shirley. Edward John Hill, (commission agent, of Greymouth, husband of the late Mrs Hill, said he asked Mrs Shirley what she would charge to perform an operation, and she said £l5. Witness said he would call on her one day in the following week. The telephone conversation had been at the end of February or the beginning of 2.larch. Witness had been worried, but. Mrs Shirley had said there was nothing to worry about. On Saturday, March 14, witness had conic to Christchurch with his wife, and the following day they had gone to Mrs Shirley’s place, where they had discussed the price of an operation. Witness described what had happened at Mrs Shirley’s place, and said that he had given Mrs Shirley three £5 notes. He then repeated the conversation he had with Mrs Shirley. At this stage Chief-Detevtive Dunlop asked that a provisional order prohibiting publication of the telephone numbers should be made. He said it was his intention to produce certain toll cards. He submitted that they were private documents, and it was only in exceptional cases that they were available. In objecting to an order. Mr Sargent said that if granted it meant that the right of the newspapers to publish anything at any time could be stopped. He submitted that the Court had not the power. The magistrate said he would make an order in the meantime. Evidence of what occurred her nursing home was given by Nurse i Roberts, and medical evidence of Mrs j Hill’s •condition when she was admitted to hospital was given by Drs. Kn’ght and McMillan, house surgeons at Christ-14 rc-h I’ublic Hospital. At her I second admission she was suffering ( from peritonitis associated with toxaemia. She was gravely ill, sank that night, and died at 10.45 a.m. next day. The Court adjourned until to-morrow morning. Bai! was allowed, self in £5OO and one surety of £5OO or two of £250. _