DEATH OF A CHARWOMAN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 56, 30 November 1918, Page 3

DEATH OF A CHARWOMAN

Mr. l>. V. Frazer, S.M., held an inquest yesterday afternoon into the cause of death ot Cecilia Josephine M'Partland, an olhco cleaner, a married woman, who died suddenly at 7.30 a.m. yesterday while at work at the Public Trust Office. Dr. W, K. Fyffe, who made a postmortem examination, said there were no i bruises or external marks of violence on the body. The lungs were in a condition ot acute oedema. The cause of death was acute oedema of the lungs, due to iiiiluenza. Mary Elizabeth Jeffries, charwoman, residing at 170 Hanson Street, said that she knew the deceased, and last y\w her alive, at 5.15 a.m. yesterday, when she was eomiiiE! into the Public Trust Office. Deceased, who had complained of feeling unwell, said she had had a bad night and did not feel much like work Witness knew that Mrs. M'Partland had suffered from influenza, but kept on working. An hour later (6.15 a.m.) witness found deceased lying unconscious, and wnt for Dr. Hardwiek Smith, who came inter, but Mrs. M'Partland died soon after his arrival. Edward M'Partland, factory maiwor residing at 296 Tinakori Eoa'd, said "tho deceased, who was his wife, was -14 voars of age, and had been siijl'oriii? from ;„'. Jmenza for about two weeks. She seemed 'to be under tho impression that it was only a slight attack, and did not require attention. She took medicine. There was no reason why she should go out worknig, and witness had- told her not to do so. She wns oarnine ,CG a month and had a military pension vf JJIO per month, while vtness had a pension of -€li 10s. por month, and was earning fimn MZ to £3 a weolc S The coroner found that death was due t'i acuto oedema of the lungs, tho resull of influenza.