MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1026, 20 October 1903, Page 2

MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

.VERDICT IN THE CASE OB MRS MALCOLM NICCOL,

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night

.The enquiry; regarding the death of Mrs Malcolm Niccol s jvho died suddenly on the 7th inst., was concluded to-day. Dr Maclaurin, Colonial Analyst, who had made an examination of portions of .the body a but found no traces of poison,; Drs Henry and Puttnem were recalled, and on being asked if they ii’ad anything to aid to their previous evidence, said that siuce poison was now excluded, they thought that air .embolism was a cause of deathj The jury, returned i the following verdict: “ That the death of Mrs Niccoi was caused during a process of miscarriage, under • circumstances of grave suspicion against Mrs Winter. This is the woman who was at deceased’s house at .the time o£ her deaths It is understood to-night that the police do nor intend taking any action in the matter.

SOME OE THE EVIDENCE

Dr Chappie, on being recalled,; in reply to a juryman,; as to whether Mrs Niccol had mentioned to him that she wished to procure a miscarriage,; refused at that stage to answer, on .the ground of professional secresyg Dr Putman said that he .was called oft the street to attend Mrs Niccol, at her house on October 7. He was shown upstairs by. Mrs .Winter. Mrs Niccol was on the bed, partly dressed. She had apparently just died. He satisfied himself that she was dead, but made no further examination. Ho asked Mrs Winter .what had caused the death, and she said she had had lunch with Mrs Niccol that day, that Mrs Niccol was playing the piano after lunph, and a while after complained of feeling unwell, and laid down, The remainder of the story was rather mixed, but .the effect of it was that Mrs Niccol had

fallen down, and that Mrs Winter had lifted her up again with considerable difficulty. Mrs Winter was a little contused. Witness was not

able to form any opinion whatever as to the cause of death. When he left Hie house lie went and informed the police. He returned in ten minutes, he made no further examination until next day, when he made a postmortem examination of the body, assisted by Dr Henry. There was po-

sitive evidence to show that Mrs Niccol died during the progress oi a miscarriage, but no positive evid-

ence of what led to the miscarriage. He noticed gas in the abdominal veins, which might be significant or might not. He could not express any opinion as. to to the& cause of death until he got 'an analysis of the contents of the stomach. Ada Lesson, Mrs Niecol’s domestic servant, deposed that a .ew weeksbefore Airs Niccol died she began to

talk about making baby clothes. Mrs

Winter came to the house oil October 7. Witness had never heard of Mrs Winter before that, but the previous day Mrs Niccnl had stated she expected a lady to lunch on the following day. Witness' went out as usual with the children after lunch, and was sent Tor when Mrs Niccol became iIL Mrs Winter said that Airs Niccol had had a fit, and asked witness if she had ever, ; had one before.

Mrs Winter deposed that her husband wai a laborer. She had done some nursing, but had given it up on account of ill-health. She had known Mrs Niccol for some months

Tiut had; not previously been at her house before. They had first met by speaking to each other in a trani,car. Mrs Niccol had frequently visited witness’s hose, and had been there on the Friday prior to her dc 'ah. Prior to the day of her death, |witness had not known that Mrs Niccol was pregnant ; she ( bad stated that Dr Chappie had 'told her so. 'Mrs Niccol had not at any ■time spoken to her about a miscarriage. She had not given the deceased any drug or medicine —nothing but a cap of tea.- She could in no way account for whit had happened. They partook of the same food at lunch.

Dr Chappie, being recalled, and being informed that Air Niccol had no objection to bis stating scything he knew, said that i\lrs Niccol had told him she had been advised to go to j\lrs Winter, because ,she could procure a miscarriage with air, without danger. He tried to dissuade her and thought he had succeeded.