A MISSING CONPSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1061, 8 February 1913, Page 3

A MISSING CONPSE.

CORONER’S ' ri_ r RISE. 1... F. ■ A sir : . * dis**'- -?«■ .tne ■v. the \v, r ! i • • ibernooii, vvh-.-n <l> Dr. McArthur, 6 :vl!, was to have bell an inquest touching the death of a woman, Jes.i«. Holt, also known as ?*Jrs Edith Richards, who was removed to that institution after being fouud in a serious condition at a house iu Lome Street. She died on Wednesday night. This afternoon the coroner went into the morgue to view the bodv, but it was not there. He then proceeded to Ca 'roni) where the police- and v. !tr.c--s?s were wailing, and anuounc M "hat the body could no* - E ‘ 1 1 • Wo-j'.ibcuse, sern’o. h ■■ .

was summoucu ano > r» ‘i• ■•uer i nquiring .vhat bad w the body, said ire had given authority for a certificate as to the cause of death to be signed. Dr. McArthur: Who signed it ? Dr. Woodbouse : Dr Fraser ; but I am to blame, because I told him he could give a certificate to the effect that death was due to an accident. Dr. McArthur : Well this is au extraordinary case. This woman has been put down as being married in my report, and iu the newspapers she is said to be single. The woman is said to have died as a result of a certain happening, and was said to have taken lysol. There was every reason why the body should not have been tuken before I gave a burial certificate.

Dr. Woodhouse : The body was taken away from the Hospital this morning and buried this afternoon. Sergeant Rutledge stated that the deceased had been living with a man named Richards and was going under the name of Mrs Edith Richards. She also had gone under other names.

Dr. McArthur: Who was so anxious to bury her ? Dr. Woodhouse gave the name of an undertaker who furnished the funeral.

Dr. McArthur : Of course, but who gave instruction to bury her ?

Dr. Woodhouse : The relatives buried her. He added that the hospital authorities received a message that the police could not find anything to lead them to expect that deceased made away with herself. Therefore be gave authority for the signing of a certificate that death was due to au accident.

Dr. McArthur: Well, we have nothing to do with the question of criminality. We want to ascertain the circumstances which brought about the death. You can’t say that because a person died of so and so you can give a certificate of death.

Dr. Woodhouse: Not at all. We have never done so, but when I got this message I thought the police would have nothing further to do with her.

Dr. McArthur asked why he bad not been consulted. Dr. Woodhouse : I told them distinctly there must be some inquiry into this. Dr. McArthur: has been some undue hurry >■ r- this, but I don’t say on the partSomebody has been Gxng ibis up. Somebody has bee i in < hurry to get her out of the road. The inquest will be gone on with tomorrow morning.