CORONER’S INQUEST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5013, 18 April 1877, Page 3

CORONER’S INQUEST.

At the Hospital yesterday an inquest was held before Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury on the body of the late Mrs. Baffin, who died on Saturday night last. The following jury was sworn :—John Leahy, William Meyer, Thomas Smith, James Capper, Charles Gibbons, James Gibbs, James Fulton, William Osborne, Thomas Harvey, John Brady, William Isaac, Thomas Bould, and William Cook. John Brady was chosen foreman. Dr. Johnston made a few remarks on the case before them, remarking that it had been the subject of a good deal of talk about town, in consequence of the fact being known that for months past the unfortunate woman had been most cruelly treated by her husband. Dr. Harding had made a post-mortem examination of the body, and he might tell them that the evidence of the doctor would go to show that the woman died from natural causes, and he was afraid that no adequate punishment could reach Mr. Baffin. The jury then retired to view the body, and having returned, the following evidence was taken ; Dr. Harding was the first witness, and he, having been sworn, deposed : On the 22nd of March I attended Mrs. Baffin, whose death is the subject of this inquest. She was confined on that day. She was attended by a nurse. The house was poorly furnished, and generally speaking the woman seemed to be suffering from poverty. The husband was in the house on the date of the ■woman’s confinement. He was sober. I think the 22nd of March was on a Thursday. On the following Sunday I called at the house between twelve and one o’clock to see Mrs. Baffin. Her husband was

then -in the house, drunk, and in a state of great excitement. He entered the bedroom and spoke very roughly to her. He threatened and shook his fist at her as she lay in bed. Prior to his entering the room Mrs. Baffin had been complaining to me of his drunken habits, telling me that he had turned out the nurse the day before, and that she (Mrs. Baffin) had been without attention or nourishment during the night; but the nurse returned in the morning. The nurse was in the house when these complaints were made to me. I persuaded the husband to leave the room, and when I left the house it was quiet. About two hours afterwards the nurse came round to me and said that Baffin had struck his wife, and that she in terror had jumped out of bed and went out of the house into a neighbor’s in her nightdress for protection. I told her the best thing she could do would be to get him arrested, and I gave her a note to the police, to whom I expressed a fear that it was dangerous for the man to be at large. He was in consequence of this arrested. Saw Mrs. Baffin twice afterwards. She appeared to be relieved in mind, and told me that the neighbors had supplied all her wants. I did not see her again professionally until last Friday evening, when I was called out to see her by Mr. Howe, who lives in the same street. He told me he thought Mrs. Baffin was dying, and asked me to see her. I went to the house with him, and on arrival found the woman lying on the bed on the floor. She was then unconscious.

There were several neighbors present. They said they had to break open the door, having found it locked, and hearing the children cry. Being inside the house they found the woman as I saw her. The only thing in the shape of food in the house was some stew in a saucepan. I treated her with stimulants, and one or two of the neighbors promised to sit up with her. She was partially conscious, I believe, several times during the night, and took food. I saw her next morning (Saturday last). She was then cleanly washed and lying on the bed. She appeared to be weaker than the day before, I advised the people with her to get her into the hospital, and the advice was acted on, being carried into effect by the police the same afternoon. I heard of the death on Sunday morning. I made a post mortem examination of the body. There were no marks of violence externally. The body was fairly nourished. On opening the chest I found a large quantity of fluid in each pleure round the lungs. There were marks of extensive inflammation of both lungs. There was also a small quantity of fluid in the pericardium. There was a large clot of coagulated blood on the right side of the heart, which was otherwise healthy. The stomach was almost empty, as were also the intestines. In the stomach there was a certain amount of food in process of digestion. The other organs were healthy, and there were no signs of violence about the body. The brain was healthy, but the veins were gorged with dark blood. I should say she died from pleuro pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs and thin membranes. I should say that death svas accelerated by too early exposure after confinement, and not having received proper nourishment while in a delicate state of health.

Elizabeth Foley deposed that she was the wife of Thomas Eoley, and lived next door to the house lately occupied by the deceased. Had known the deceased as a neighbor. Remember Sunday, the 25th of March. About 1 o’clock that day, the deceased was in the yard adjoining her house. She had nothing on but a nightdress, an old skirt, and a shawl thrown over her shoulders. She had a baby throe days old in her arras. Witness went out with her husband and a man named Lacey, and helped the deceased into the house. She was in a fainting state. Witness gave her some brandy and water, and put her to bed. When the deceased recovered she made a statement to tho effect that her husband had struck her on the face and breast, and had refused to give her anything but a cup of tea, without milk or sugar, notwithstanding that she asked him for some nourishment. He struck her because she told tho doctor of his ill-treatment. After the deceased had partaken of some refreshment she was taken back in an easy chair to her own home, her husband having been taken into custody. Witness and tho neighbors subscribed money to assist tho woman and attended her. Deceased began to recover, and looked forward to getting quite strong again; but on Friday, when she came into witness’s house, she complained of having a bad cold., Witness did not feel any surprise at deceased being out on Friday morning, because she was frequently out. Later in the day, however, it was felt that something must be the matter, in consequence of tho house being locked up, and tho little girl Wyatthaving heard the children crying inside. The police were sent for, the door was broken open, and tho deceased was found inside lying on tho floor. Dr. Harding was sent for, but before he arrived Mr. Monteith, who happened to be passing, was called

in, and he prescribed for her an egg and wine. Next day she recovered slightly, although not appearing to recognise those about her. The deceased was by the advice of Dr. Harding taken to the Hospital in an express.

Mr. Moutoith was examined as to the arrival of the deceased at the Hospital, and subsequent proceedings. The jury returned a verdict of “ Death from natural causes,” but added the following rider :—“The jury desire to express their horror at the brutal treatment received by the deceased from her husband, Michael Baffin, and consider that his treatment of her was the original cause of her death.”