CORONER'S INQUEST.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1188, 20 May 1872, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Friday, lTfch May, as the Diggers' Rest Hotel, foot of J Esqiure, Coroner, on the remains of Mary Jenkins Ross, wife of Mr J. W. Ross, hotel-keeper and baker, Nelson Creek. A jury having been sworn, they proceeded to view the body at the Nelson Creek Hotel. From the evidence of the husband of the deceased, it appeared she was expecting her confinement, and she was first taken ill between three and four o'clock on the afternoon of Thursday, 16th instant. At about half-past four o'clock, the deceased was delivered of a stillborn child. Mrs James, a neighbor, was with her, and she was also with his wife when she was confined previously. His wife told Mrs James after the birth that she was getting on favorably, and Mrs James did all she could for her before she went to her own house. He remained with his wife ; she did not speak to him or complain of any pain. Some time after ten o'clock at night, she said to him suddenly, "Oh ! Jack, look after the children," and immediately afterwards she died. She was the mother of six children, four of whom were alive. There never was any danger or difficulty at the birth of any of the other children. She had a fall about six months ago, and she expressed fears that there was something wrong with her child. His wife was 30 years of age, and his eldest boy was nine years old. Mrs Lucy James, wife of Jacob James, brewer, Nelson Creek and Ahaura, said she went first to see tho deceased at 12 Q ? clo.ck on Thursday. Left and returned about two p.m., and stayed with Mrs Ross until the child was born, between four and five o'clock. The child was dead born. Remained until nine o'clock in the evening, when the deceased said she was getting on all right, and she left her. At about half-past ten Ross called her, and said his wife was dying. She was in bed, but she dressed herself as quickly as possible, and went to the deceased, when she found she was dead. Lived next door to. deceased, and was with her when her last child was born. There were not any bad symptoms during this or the previous confinement. The deceased was a strong healthy woman, and she never complained to her of having met with an. agcident ; but she diil not have muchlntercourse with Mrs Ross except as a neighbor ; she attended her as such, and: not as a professional midwife. William Phillips, M.R.C;S.,E.,;said he made a post mortem examination of the body of the deceased. Externally the usual appearances, indicating recent childbirth, were presented. Internally, the parts were orgauically healthy, but the womb was ruptured in two places. There was a large quantity of blood in the lower part of the cavity of the abdomen. There was also a quantity of ext'ravasated blood on the womb. All the other organs were perfectly healthy. He was of opinion that deathwas caused by rupture of the womb, and from hemorrhage consequent thereon. The rupture might have been caused by violent pains, but after it occurred nothing could have saved the life of the deceased. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and further expressed an unanimous opinion that Mrs James did all she could for the deceased to the best [of her ability, and acted towards her as a good neighbor should.