STRANGLED IN BED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7820, 12 May 1905, Page 2

STRANGLED IN BED.

eiIKTSTCHUHCB, May 11. Ihe inquest on Miss Constance Cuddon, who was found strangled in bed at the nursing home of Mi's Wood, Opawa, on the itrd inst. was resumed to-day. When the inquest opened it was stated that the deceased, who was mentally afflicted, had been placed in a straight jacket, and her feet strapped to the bed, and on the Wednesday evening was found partly hanging out o( bed suffocated. Evidence supporting this was given by the nurso. " Dr. Syines stated he advised Mrs Wood to stop the practice as soon as possible. Mrs Wood was called, but as 111'. Syines certified that to question hcl would bo dangerous on account of severe heart disease, she was allowed to stand down.

The Coroner, in summing up, spoke [strongly on ( the necessity for superI vision of homes for tlic treatment of the mentally afflicted, and stated that "Mrs Wood had applied' fov and been refused a license for her hpinc under tho Lunacy Act. After a quarter of an hour's retirement th|i jury returned a verdict that death was due to strangulai tion, and that the patient had not been kept under proper or sufficient carc and control. A rider was added, expressing the opinion of the jury that private nursing homes for the treatment of the mentally al-uffliet'-d should be abolished.