DEATH OF ELLEN MOONEY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 7 February 1901, Page 3

DEATH OF ELLEN MOONEY.

An i'iWpest was held at the Courthouse yesterday, touching the death of Ellon Mooney. The following evidence was taken.

Alexander Mooney, sworn, _ said I am an old miner residing off Tainui Street, the deceased was my wife. Both of us were receiving old age pensions. My wife was pretty nearly blind for the last twelve months. Latterly she could not see anything. Sho could not sec to cook and I did it. On Sunday we had a half of a ham. Did not see her go to bed on Monday. She was in the habit of going to bed in the afternoon. I cannot say how she got to bed on Monday. I had a drink on Monday and brought her some homo. 1 last saw her alive about 2 30 a.m on Tuesday, I got up and went down to Dr. Moriee, senr, but could not make anyone hear, so I went to M'Brearty’s I saw the servant girl, hue the Doctor was out. I then went home and she was dead. I went to the Police Station about 9 a.m.

By Inspector McDonnell —Your wife has marks on her body, and one of her ribs is bi’oken, also a blow on the knee.

Witness continued said, I cannot account , for the marks on my wife. She was in the habit of falling down, but never complained. I got my pension also her’s on the first of the months. It amounted to £3. I went to all the Hotels for my beer. Cannot remember what drink I brought home on Monday. Mr M’Carthyhad known Mrs Mooney for about three or four years. She has been more or less blind during that time. I last saw her alive on Monday afternoon on her back verandah. Heard deceased and her husband talking shortly afterawards. She seemed all right, I cannot say if she had been drinking. Sometimes they were drinking. Mr Mooney told me of her death about 11 a ra on Tuesday morning. I was asked to go in and I saw that she was dead. I did not hear any noise on Monday night, I have heard them talking loud when they have been drinking. They did not have any serious quarrel on Monday afternoon that I am aware of.

S. McNaught—l am a carpenter residing off Tainui street. I have not seen much of deceased lately, I last saw her about two weeks ago. I have seen deceased walking around with her hand on the fence. I remember Mooney coming to my house on Tuesday morning about 3-40 a.m. Ho said he had been to the doctor. I got dressed, but as ho was away I did not like to go in. I cannot say if they were given to drink. I have heard a little noise but not quarrelling. Have known her to fall down and not be able to get up again because she was blind.

C. Morice a duly qualified praetioner, I held a postmortem on deceased’s body. There were bruises on the loft aide of the head, face and chin, there was also a little bruise over the left breast, and a very slight bruise on the left side of her belly ; marks of bleeding from the nose. She was bruised on the knees, more especially the left. There was effusion of blood over the left ear, and considerable amount of effusion in the brain. The lungs were healthy. The stomach contaiaud about halt-a-pint of fluid, smelling like beer ; the liver was normal, and the intestines were pretty empty. The cause of death was syncope, the result of shock and want of nutriment combined. Deceased was perfectly blind. All injuries with the exception of the right knee wore of recent date. The Jury after a brief deliberation returned a verdict that deceased met her death through a shock to her system caused by a fall. That there is not sufficient evidence to show how the fall ocoured but it was possible through deceased paiing blind.