FLORENCE MARKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 234, 21 February 1913, Page 5

FLORENCE MARKS.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. A SERTOUS PROBLEM LN SOCIOLOGY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 19. The death of the girl Florence Frances Marks, who, while dressed in a boy's clothes, took poison on the doorstep of the Salvation Army Home at Parnell, and afterwards died in the hospital, was enquired into at the Coroner's Court this morning before the coroner and a jury. Dr. Alexander Kinder stated that he was called to the Salvation Army Home, Parnell, on February 3, where he attended deceased and ordered her removal to the hospital. A post-mortem examination showed that death was due to poisoning by perchloride of mercury. There were no signs of pregnancy. Dr. Kinder said that the girl was evidently one of the weak-minded type—a type for the handling of which there wen- no arrangements at the present time. All that one could say was that they were weak-minded. Tn Christchurch a movement was started for the establishment of a home, under Government control, where such girls could be put under strict discipline and kept regularly at work. The matter was a very serious one. and the doctor though the jury should recommend the Oovtrnment to fake such steps as would make it possible to place such cases under proper control.

The coroner remarked that, in his opinion, the lunatic asylums would not have half the number of patients if there were homes for imbeciles as there were in England. At the present time there was nothing recognised between insanity and a normal mental condition. There should be a reformative institution for the. care of those who, while not (it to be at large, were not proper subjects for an asylum.

Dr. Kinder said that the need for j such a homo as lie suggested was much more urgent in the case, of the fenial sex than for the other sex. The father of deceased said it was only fair to the girl to say that she was always a good worker. She never shirked, and had a good name wherever she had worked. The matron bore out this statement, and said she had heard /the same thing from the girl's workfellows. Such cases were very difficult to deal with, and individuals varied very much. After they bad been put on their feet, some of them would work for twelve months, some six months, some three, and others would only work a few weeks before they went off again, if these, girls were under proper control and received proper instruction and treatment, a great deal could be done for them. The jury found that death was caused by percliloride of mercury, self-adminis-tered while deceased was of unsound mind. They added a strong rider calling the. attention of the Government to the importance of establishing an institution where, imbecile girls could be brought under proper control, as suggested by Dr. Kinder.