CORONER'S INQUEST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 20 March 1878, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

After lingering for several days, Mrs John Daly, who inflicted serious iujuries upon herself ten days ago in an attempt to cut her throat, died this morniug at hair-past eight. An inquest was held at the Golden Fleece Hotel at 3-30 this afternoon before Dv Squires, the Coroner, aud a jury, of which Mr Aitkeu was foreman. The following evidence was taken: — John Daly stated as follows: —My wife had been ailing for some months, and her mind appeared to be affected. Ou the morning of the 11th instant I left home at 8-30, when she seemed all right. I got home at noon, when I found Mrs Disher and Miss Joues there. They had been tryiug to get into the bedroom, which was on the ground floor, but had failed, i went to the door and shook it, and said, " Maggie, if you don't open jthe door I'll break it open." She turned the key, whereupon I opened the door. She never spoke, but staggered back. She

was dressed, but covered with blood, and was a frightful sight. She fell back on the bed, and then on to the iloor. I ran out into the street and saw Captain Ponsonby, who returned to the house with me, and then I went out and saw Coustable Cooper, and got him to go for a doctor. I havn not the slightest, doubt that she cut her throat while in a deranged state of mind. She had been very depressed ever since the birth of her last child, which was on the 7th October. The child died on the 27th December. Miss Jones was at the bouse with Airs Disher on the morning of the 11th. Deceased went to her room about 10 o'clock as was customary, and remained there some time. After a while they thought it strange, and on trying to open the door they found it locked, and all the windows fastened. They then sent the children for Mr Daly. Deceased had never said anything to lead witness to suppose she was likely to injure herself. She had been very melancholy lately. The knife produced (an ordinary table knife) was the one found in her room. She had been using one like it in the morning Dr. Farrelle had been attendiug deceased for some time. She had always been cheerful until lately, when she appeared to be suffering from religious depression, though he had never any reason to believe that it would lead her to commit such an act. When sent for on Monday, the 11th instant, he found her lyiug across the bed with a large and deep incised wound, commencing at the angle of the right jaw and extending across the larynx. She had bled enormously. She said she had done it herself. The immediate cause of death he believed to be suffocation from a leakage of matter into the larynx. The following verdict was returned: — "That the deceased died from injuries inflicted by herself on the 11th instant while in an unsound state of mind."