THE CASE OF MRS. CHARLOTTE TAYLOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5433, 26 August 1878, Page 3

THE CASE OF MRS. CHARLOTTE TAYLOR.

■ (From the Manawntu Times, 24th inst.) LUNACr. Mi’s. Charlotte Taylor, who a few weeks since applied for and obtained a protection order against her husband, was brought up on an information charging her with being of unsound mind. Samuel Bartlett had known her for 30 years. When she showed signs of mental aberration eight days ago, took charge of her. Last Friday evening he was in the same room and had dozed off to sleep, but was awakened by a noise at the window, when he discovered that his patient had given him the slip, and made her ex't through the window. He aroused a neighbor named Ingram, who started off in search of the poor creature in a different direction to that taken by himself. James Ingram deposed to having had his attention attracted by a noise in the direction of a drain running through the paddock which he was searching, and on reaching the spot from which the noi«e proceeded, found Mrs. Taylor tightly wedged in the drain, her entire body, with the exception of her neck and head, immersed in water - . With the assistance of Mr. Bartlett, he carried her home, when it was found necessary to tie her, to prevent her doing any injury either to herself or others. Dr. Kockstrow testified to tfie unsoundness of the poor woman’s mind, and stated that she was suffering under religious mania, and had attempted her own life on several occasions, and that she was not fit to be at large. No constable being in Foxton, the purser of the Jane Douglas was sworn in as a special constable. A female attendant was also engaged, and the unfortunate woman was remanded to Wellington. CORONER’S IKQUEST. A jury, of which Mr. J. McCulloch was chosen foreman, was empanelled at Whvte’s Hotel, Foxton, to inquire into the circumstances attending tbs death of Charlotte Taylor. Samuel Baker, clerk of the K.M. Court, deposed to the deceased having been charged with being of unsound mind, and remanded to Wellington for medical examination, under the care of the purser of the steamer Jane Douglas and Mrs. Wahle. Charles Henry Harnett : I am purser of the Jane Douglas. I was sworn in at the E.M. Court, Foxton, as special constable to take charge of a lunatic woman, with her papers and luggage. The deceased is that woman. She was brought on board by a person who stayed with her until he was relieved by Mrs. Wahle, who took charge of her till tea-time. She was relieved for tea, and returned to her charge till half-past 9. She was then relieved by a seaman, X looked at her about 10 o’clock. She was all right then, apparently in a sound sleep. I turned in, and was awoke by the steward about 12, who told me the woman was missing. I got up and dressed myself and searched the hold, and found the rope with which she had been tied close by the rudder-chain on the starboard. Two men went ashore to search the beach, but could find no traces of the deceased. The steamer was aground inside the bar. Captain Fraser and myself went ashore about 7 a.ra. on Thursday, and found the body on the beach at high.water mark, 75 yards from the. vessel. We returned to the steamer for help, took the body on board, and returned to Foxton. By the Jury ; The watch on deck bad orders to closely watch the deceased. By Constable Gillespie; I was only instructed to take charge of papers and luggage. I only held myself responsible to a certain extent for the woman’s safety. I did not consider that she was fully in my charge. I left her in charge of others because I was tired. Wilhelmina Wahle deposed ; I was with the' deceased from the 17th instant. I went on board the steamer, and sat with h-r until half-past 9on the 21st. She was tied with a rope; her arms, hands, and legs were tied. She was in the hold. When I went on deck I took the steps away. I went to bed, as Captain Fraser had promised me she should be attended to by the watch. Before -I retired two persons were watching her ; they were on deck. I hoard that she was missing about midnight. By Constable Gillespie : I did not go out of the hold till some one was by to watch. Captain Fraser relieved mo. By the Jury: I expected payment for my services. From my knowledge of her I did not think she ought to have boeu left alone ; hut I was tired. Captain Fraser told me to “go and lie down and ho would watch.” James Fraser deposed : l am master of the Jano Douglas. On Wednesday, August 21, I was informed that a lunatic passenger was coming aboard, I bad a comfortable place got ready for her in the after-hold. She was tied when she carao aboard. I considered she was perfectly safe. I saw her last at 9.15. She was lying asleep, and the ladder was taken out of the hatchway. I told the man who had the look-out to keep his eyes on the woman, and not allow.her to come on deck, but to call tho purser if she attempted to move. I then went to bed. A few minutes before midnight I heard the' steward say that tho woman was missing. I wont on dock, and searched the after-hold, but could see nothing of her. I sout two mon ashore to search tho boach. I got a lantern from the steward, searched all round tho deck, and examined tho propeller, but could find uo trace of the woman. At 1 o’clock we got tho vessel alloat, and at 7 tho purser and I went ashore, and found the body about 100 yards from tho place whore tho vessel lay when wo missed her. As soon as tho tide made sufficiently, I returned to Foxton. By tho Jury: Tho distance from the cargo to the combiugs of tho hatch would bo about 3ft. Oin. to 4ft.' Tho ladder rested on tho cargo. I can’t account for her getting herself adrift. It was a dark night. Tho- pilot, Nicholas, was aboard, and saw her a few minutes before sbo was missing. By Constable Gillespie :. Tlio watch on deck had charge of her, no ono was deputed to watch her below. I told Mrs. VVbalo that tho watch would look after her. Every precaution was taken for her safety. John Braijoy, an A.II, who was on'watch on Wednesday night from 10 to 12, deposed : 1 was told to look out for tho ship, and to seo that the mad woman did not come on deck.

As of ten as I looked down below slie was lying asleep. I saw her at ten minutes to 12, when I went on the bridge till I should be relieved. I staved on the bridge till it was almost time to strike eight bells. It was dark. I could not see the woman from the bridge unless she was in the light of the after hold. The vessel was on shore. I had to watch both the ship and the woman. X was the only watch on deck. : Elizabeth Taylor : I recognise the deceased as being my mother. She was forty-two years of age. I saw her last alive on Wednesday, the 21st. Frederick Edwards : I am steward of the Jane Douglas. When deceased was brought on board a rope was loosely tied round her. I took it off and cut it into three pieces, lashing her arms with one piece, her wrists with the other, and her knees with the remainder. I made up a good bed for her in the after hold. At 7 o'clock I let her hands adrift that she might have some tea, but made them fast again. X stayed in the hold with her till 11.30, when she appeared to fall asleep. I came on deck and told the watch to give me a call if she cried out or wanted anything. Uhe watch called me about five minutes to twelve, and told me she was gone. I called the purser. We searched, but could find nothing but the rope. The witness was here taken to see tho body, and on returning produced a piece of rope that was on the wrist of deceased, and described how it had been made fast. When found it bore evident marks of the application of the teeth of the deceased. The jury, after an hour’s deliberation, agreed upon the following verdict I— That the deceased, Charlotte Taylor, her death by drowning in the Manawatu River, near Foxton, having jumped overboard from the steamer Jane Douglas, on the night of tho 21st day of August, 1878, whilst of unsound mind, and that culpable negligence has been shown in regard of said Charlotte Taylor’s safe keeping whilst in the custody of special constable 1 Charles Harnett, and the nurse, Mrs. Wilhelmina Wahle, who had retired to bed two hours previously. Charles Harnett and Wilhelmiua Wahle were then charged with manslaughter, and committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, Wellington. Bail was found, and accepted in each case, for £IOO,