NAIRN STREET TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2773, 17 May 1916, Page 6

NAIRN STREET TRAGEDY

CORONER'S INQUEST,

The circumstances-connected with the tragedy in the Nairn Street Reserve on the night of March 27 last' were retold yesterday afternoon, when the City "Core per (Mr. D. G. A, Cooper, S.M.) held an inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of Louisa White, the victim of the tragedy. Mr: V. R. Meredith, of the Crown Law Office, represented the Crown, while Mr. P. W. Jackson watched the proceedings on behalf of Ernest Charles Jewell Devoin, .who was recently charged with the attempted murder of Louisa White and with attempted suicide.

In answer to the Coroner, Mr. Jackson said that the Crown had offered to pro, duce tho prisoner (Devoin) at the inquest, but it was not desired by prisoner or counsel that he should bo present. Dr. H. A. Gilmer, who, with Drs. Clay and Aldred, conducted a post-mortem examination, of the bodv of'the deceased, stated that a scar had been found in the back opposite the eighth dorsal vertebra, on .the left side of the spinal process and about three-quarters of an inch from the middle line. A bullet had entered tho spinal column between the ninth and tenth dorsal vertebrae, and was found imbedded in the tenth. A small, piece of bone had been, driven into the spinal cord, arid hail destroyed it, the left side of the cord being cut through. The cause of death" was the septic condition and the extreme wasting resulting from the damage done to the spinal cord by ib» bullet found. 'Tn the Coroner: It was. in the opinion of the witness, that the ballot wound, which had left the scar on f.b= de<-°ased's back, could have been selfinflicted.

JfotHcal evidence was also gi"n bv Dr. D. Lloyd Clav and Dr. B. F. Aldml. They corroborated the' evidence of Dr. Gilmer in regird to'the nost-mortem, and ."Jive eviflpnco on the liupn of rh» evidencß tendered by them in the Maeistrate's Court at ch° hearing nf the charge of attemnted murder against D»voin.

Pour other witnesses were called ns in the Court proceedings above-montionoil. nfti»r which tlie Coroner i»"v« hie vprdjef. in the following terms: '"That Hie death of the deceased. Louisa White, was caused bv the sentic eondition nnd extreme wasting resulting from the damn?" doji« to her spina? cord by a. bullet di«eliarge.l from a revolver at t-h» decreed by onc Ernest Charles Jewell T)ev o in."