THE INQUEST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 362, 24 April 1889, Page 2

THE INQUEST.

The Coroners Court opened shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday at the house of deceased, before Mr J. Ilott, J.P., Acting Coroner. Constable A. J. Mitchell, of Paeroa, conducted the enquiry. The following jury were Bworn : Kdward Limbert (foreman),. Robt. Grintcr, Geo. Colebrook, Win. Downey, Robt. Farrell, John Donnelly. The first witness called was Walter Dance, son of deceased by her fi.st marriage, who in his evidence stated that : He was an amalgamator residing at VVaihi. and deceased had lived with him, in the house where she l\ad died. His mothersname was Alice Halton, and had she lived to May 18th next, she would have beer* fifty years of age. She died on Friday afternoon about half past two, but witness* was not present when she died. She occasionally suffered from pains in hf-v chest and elsewhere, but apart from thia her general health was good. She went to Paeroa on horseback on the Sunday previous, and relumed the following Mon^ day evening between four and five o'clock She awoke about twelve o'clock that night; and complaiued that she felt rather sick and that her head was bad. Made her a cup of tea in the morning, before leaving for work at eight o'clock, and this she commenced to drink.. On returning home from work that evening found his tea had been prepared for him- ! bj* his mother, but she had gone back tobed again, and was apparently asleep. On, Wednesday morning his mother told him. before he left for work that she felt all 1 right again, and was going up to a Mrs Hollis', who lived about a mile away, to do a days washing ; and on Wednesday night on coming home found she had returned,, and appeared in good health and spirits. On Thursday she was busy doing a days, washing at home ; and told w itness on his return from woik that she had done a bigp days washing and felt very tired. About four o'clock on Fricay morning witness* was awoke b) r hearing his mother retching. At her request his brother got up, boiled some water, and gave her some hot water and ginger, which seemed to give her relief,. At this time she complained of pains in her stomach. About half-past five on Friday morning he was jx woke by his mother a second time, who complained of great pains in her stomach and was moaning. Went up to the Wai hi Hotel and got her some brandy, and gave her some hot brandy and water which relieved her, and when he left for his workthatmorning sho said she felt a good deal better. H« did not see her afterwards alive, being sent for about half-past two that afternoon by a messenger who told him his mother was dead. He returned home at once and found it was true. On several occasions during the past two years his mothei has been attacked by very severe cramps in the stomach ; these attacks always resulting from having overwoiked herself 1 . The only medicine in the house was some St. Jacob's oil and Holloway's piils. Nothing for the purpose of destroying rats or of a poisonous nature was purchased, or brriug^ht to U>%