A REVOLTING STORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 145, 6 November 1912, Page 5

A REVOLTING STORY.

WOMAN'S SHOCKING DEATH. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Dr. McArthur, S.M., the coroner, opened an inquest to-day on the body of Jane May Allen, widow, 61 years old, who was found dead in a bed in 01 Tinakori road on Sunday morning. The case for the police was conducted by Chief-Detective Broberg. Evidence was given by Dr. Pattic, who was called to the House by telephone, that a little after noon he found a woman fully dressed, with the exception of her boots, lying on her left side on a bed. Her face was partially inclined to the pillow. There was discoloration on the front .part of her face, neck, arms, and hands. This would be due to post mortem lavidity. The features were flattened, and this seemed to have been caused by the weight of her head on tlio pillow. So marks of violence were found on the head, neck or arms, though the doctor did not examine the body for such marks. He could not say how long the woman had been dead, but at the time he formed the opinion that it was for no less a period than "24 hours. Charles Borck, waterside worker, who had lived with the deceased for the last four years, stated that he turned the deceased over about 11 o'clock on Sunday, and she did not seem to be dead. He thought she was unwell, so lie sent for Drs. Pattie and Izard. . The last time he spoke to the woman was at 11.30 on Friday evening. Twice that night he had given her brandy, to which she was much addicted. All day Saturday he went about the town, and went home drunk about midnight. The woman was then lying on the bed, but he did not speak to her, nor she to him. He could not tell whether she was alive after 11.30 on Friday night. At no time had he ever struck the woman. Other evidence was given that the woman was seen alive after 7 p.m. on Friday, and Constable Thompson stated that the room in which the body was found resembled a pig-stye. The bedclothes were filthy. The inquest was then adjourned until Monday, when the evidence of Dr. Fyfe, who held a post-mortem, will be given.