SUDDEN DEATH.-CORONER’S INQUEST.

Kumara Times, Issue 2799, 10 September 1885, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH.-CORONER’S INQUEST.

An inquiry touching the death of Mrs Elizabeth Christie was held at the Court House this morning, by J. Giles, Esq., Coroner for the district, and a jury of thirteen, composed as follows : Thomas R. Connell (foreman), William Kroener, C. E. Olsen, Garrett Dee, Michael Gerraghty, Thomas Nicol, James Drummond, Charles Heintz, George Anderson, Michael Murphy, Samuel Wilkinson, Wm. Frederick Thompson, and Hugh Adamson. After taking the necessary oath, the Coroner invited the jury to accompany him to view the body of deceased, which lay at the residence of the husband, near the saw-mill; after which the following evidence was taken : Agnes Edwards, sworn, said : I live at my father’s house near the tramway, Main Road, Kumara. I knew the deceased Elizabeth Christie; I last saw her alive on Monday morning at nine o’clock, the 7th inat., in front of Mrs Ryan’s, on the other side of the road, going up the road, towards her own place. I spoke to her; she said her baby was ill, and she wanted some medicine for it. She did not have the baby with her. It was not her own baby; it was Mrs M‘Lean’s, There did not appear to be anything the matter with her. That was the last time I saw her alive. I saw her again at her own house at ten minutes past twelve, same day. I went to ask for some mustard for my father. I went in and found Mts Christie lying dead on the bed, on her face, with the baby on one of her arms. She showed no signs of life, as I listened to hear if she breathed. I did not call to her. I then went out and told two boys who were in the stable. They went into the house, and felt her arms. They went and told Mr Fairbairn. I took the child away. Catherine Ryan, sworn, said: I live near the saw-mill, with my husband John Ryan, who is a baker. I knew the deceased Elizabeth Christie; her housejs not far from ours, across the bush. I last saw her alive at about nine o’clock last Monday morning; she was in my house at the time. She aoked me if I could give her a dose of castor oil for the baby. I said, Yes. She then went back to fetch the baby in older that I might administer it. She did not return with the baby. She was at my house about ten minutes, crying and lamenting about the baby being so ill. She made no complaint about herself. There did not appear to be anything particular the matter with herself more than usual. About 12 o’clock I saw Mr Fairbairn, who told me he was going down to fetch the doctor, as there was something the matter with Mrs Christie. I went to Christie’s house, and found Mrs Christie lying across the bed with her face on the bed downwards and her feet on the floor; I felt one of her hands, which was a little warm, but she showed no signs of life. I Hfied her into the bed and fixed her. She did not move nor breathe. The doctor and sergeant came shortly after. The doctor pronounced her to be dead, I have known deceased for some years. She had no disease that I am aware of, but she suffered from temporary weakness or faintness. She was alone in the house, except the baby ; her husband was at work at the mill. That is all I know about the matter.

Samuel Fairbairn, sworn, said • I live near the sawmill, Main road, Ivumara. I knew the deceased, Elizabeth Christie, eight years or thereabouts. The last time I saw her alive was about eight o’clock last Monday morning, at the saw-mill. She bid me <: G-ood moruing,’’ remarking that it was “ very cold.” 1 think she was going for some firewood. I saw her no more till about 12 o clock. Two little boys came to toll me they thought Mrs Christie was dead. I then went across to her house, and found Mrs Christie lying on the bed with her face downwards. I could not say that her feet positively touched the floor. Her cheek was cold. I lifted her up, to see if she could stand ot not. X then "**ni bn* the doctor. During this last wia k, she has complained to mo on. several occasions of

being very unwell, not giving me any particular symptoms. Her age, I understand from conversation I bad with her about six months ago, was 65 or 66. William Christie, sworn, said : I am a carter, residing near the saw-mil!. The deceased Elizabeth Christie was my wife. On Monday last X left home at about half-past 6 o’clock. 1 was wor king at Larrikins. I left my wife at home in the house, with the child. She was up and about as usual ; she got my tucker ready, as I am away for some days at a lime. She was in her usual health at the time. borne years ago she suffered from fits, but she got better of them as she got older. Her age was 61. She has not suffered from any kind of attack lately. I was sent for, and went home at about two o’clock. I found her dead. That is all I know. George Thomas Davy, sworn, said : X am a registered medical prectitioner, residing at Kumara. I was sent fox' on Monday last to see the deceased Elizabeth Christie. I went to her house, at about ten minutes past 12 o’clock, and found her dead. She moved a little on her own bed. There was no indication at that time of the cause of death. I have since made a post mortem examination of the body, at mid-day on Tuesday. I found an extensive degeneration of the principal vessel" leading from the heart (the aorta), and incompetency of one of the aortic valves. There was also extensive pneumonia of the right lung, enough itself to cause death. I should imagine from the state of the stomach and intestines that she had not been taking much food lately, and was therefore probably in a feeble state. There were enlarged glands in the neck, but quite unimportant as regards the cause of death. She came to me about a month or six weeks ago, complaining of these enlarged glands in her neck. I consider the cause of death was pneumonia of the right lung, together with disease of the heart and aorta, the latter being the immediate cause. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, viz., that the deceased Elizabeth Christie died on Monday, 7th September, 1885, from natural causes —pneumonia of the right lung, together with disease of the heart and aorta. The Coroner then thanked the jury for their attendance, and dismissed them.