INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1340, 14 May 1885, Page 3

INQUEST.

(Bflfote H, C. S. Baddeley, Esq., Coroner, and a jury.) An inquest was held in the Bush Hotel, Geraldine!, yesterday, touching the death of Hannah Trengrove, which took place on the 11th inst. Inspector Brobara conducted the inquest'. The following jury were sworn : Messrs R. H. Pearpoint (foreman), D. Andrews, J; Farrell, J. Fleming, W. Ooltman, D.. Denoon, C. A. Lloyd, W. H. Lodge, R, Morrison, W. S. Maslin, L. Newport, N. Sims, Geo. Ward, R. Glass, R, Berry, A. Fisher, E. Eardcastle, and T. Raine. The jury, after being duly sworn proceeded to view, the body. The following evidence was then taken:— Elizabeth Bennett, sworn, said : I am a married woman. My husband’s name is William Bennett, a laborer. I reside in Geraldine, and have done so about nine or ten months. 1 knew the deceased woman, Hannah Trengrove, and also her husband. They resided in a two-roomed cottage opposite the public school. I remember being called in to attend Mrs Trengrove about six or seven weeks ago. She was suffering from illness. She asked me to look after her, and I did so up to her death, with the exception of a few days. Her death occurred about half-past 4 on the morning of the 11th inst. She was ill for a fortnight before she was attended by the doctor. I prevailed on her at last to send for the doctor. I remember on the first night I whs called in' Trengrbre came home and there was a row. He came home about half-past ten, in his usual state, drunk. He asked his wife if any one was here, and she said “ Yes, Mrs Quinn has been here lor some, blacksmith's things." He said “ Did you give them to her,” She said “ Yes," and Trengrove then struck her twice with bis fist on the side of the head.. He then pulled her off the sofa by the hair, and I said “ Charlie, your wife is ill,” and he said “I will make the ill.” He then pulled her by the arm to the middle of the roem and then opened the back door and threw her out. Aa he threw her out ahe fell against

[ the'side of the house. After a long time I 1 brought her in, but she did not wish to come in, because she was afraid of her husband. When she did come it was through his promising to me not to touch her any more. I got her to bed and 1 made peace between them, and sat up at the fire with Trengrove for about two hours afterwards. 1 then went home and he promised to be quiet. The next day Mrs Trengrove was taKen ill, worse than she was before. I wanted to send for Dr Fish, which she agreed to, and I did so. She took to her bed after this and was only up for a few minutes on Sunday till her death. On one occasion, about a fortnight ago, Trengrove kicked his wife on the legs and struck her on the head with his fist. He was standing on the floor and he raised his foot and kicked her twice ; he had his shoes on at the time. There was no reason for his conduct on this occasion beyond that his wife spoke to him about drinking and taking money from the children. About the same time Trengrove asked her what about some bill, and she replied that it had been paid and asked him what he wanted it for, and he told her she should not go to bed that night, ill or not ill. She was standing up at the time and I was trying to keep him away from her. He struck her on the head with his fist the same as usual. He always used very bad language, and called his wife and I bad names. This occurred before he kicked her. During the time I have been with her Trengrove beat his wife four times at least in a too severe way for her state. He pulled her out of the bed by the arm on to the floor, and began punching her as she lay on the floor, with his clenched fist. I always interfered, and that is why he had such a down on me. 1 never saw a woman treated in such a manner before. I ,told her mother of this treatment, and she accused Trengrove, and be wanted to know who told her, and I said I did. During the time Mrs Trengrove several ladies in the neighborhood supplied her with delicacies of different kinds : wine, soups, etc. Trengrove took most of the wine and the other things. I spoke to him, and he told me not to interfere. He threw out some things I got: tapioca and cornflour, and said he would not let his wife eat such stuff. The cottage has only two small rooms. When his wife was ill Trengrove slept with her unless he was too drunk, and then he slept on the sofa. On the Tuesday night before she died she cried out to me and when 1 went in she was on the floor out of the bed. (Witness here described what had taken place.) Kuth Stringer was in the next room, and came and helped me to get Mrs Tengrove off the floor, as she was very much exhausted. I'abused Trengrove, and he told me to go to ——. I interfered when the same thing occurred about a fortnight before. Ruth Stringer was in room at the time with me. Trengrove was drinking the whole time of his wife’s illness. The only two nights he was sober was when he had no money. I told accused I would go for Constable Willoughby and Dr Fish when he was' abusing his wife. He used bad language (described). I went out to go for them, and when I went back for my waterproof both doors were locked. This was at two o’clock in the morning, and I went and slept in my own house with Ruth Stringer. Accused used to show his wife a little kindness when ha wanted to coax her to give him the wine. He brought her nothing but a hare once, and I think a few eggs, which be ate ■ himself. The accused always threatened hia wife, and said he would be hanged t for the whole of the family. He said he would do for one and the lot. He used bad language when speaking of his wife to his children. There are four children. Trengrove on Saturday evening last caught hold of the’eldest boy by the legs and threw him down on a heap of bricks on hia head, and I thought he was killed.

To a juror ; After the first time accused struck his wife I called her mother in, and showed her the marks. I told deceased’s mother, and I think Mr Willoughby, that accused drank the wine. 1 To the foreman, witness further de*scribed what took place in the bedroom between accused and his wife. It was on a week day that the altercation took place about the bill. Trengrove was always drinking at the hotels. To the accused ; 1 was attending on your wife all the time she was ill till you turned me out. You told Ruth Stringer and myself what you would do to me if you caught me at your house. I stopped away, and went to the doctor and Constable Willoughby. Mr Stringer told you to get someone else., I heard you did so. You had Mrs Fenn and her daughter. Your mother-in-law and two daughters did come to the house, aud you said I could come in. I was not away nine days from your house. I was not cooking at Taylor’s Hotel at that time, or working anywhere else. Sarah Wilkes was there when I was there, and she stopped up to relieve me. Ruth Stringer was there at the same time. You did not sit up to give us a rest. I was off aud on at yenr house for six weeks. For the last fortnight I was altogether there. I was there last Monday week, but did not stay long. The accused further questioned the witness at length on matters not having any important bearing on the case, Ann Stringer, sworn, deposed : l am a man ied woman, the wife of Edwin Stringer, a labourer, residing in Geraldine. The deceased was my daughter, and 28 years of age. She has been in delicate health the last few years, but was strong when first married. She has been married 10 years, and has had 5 children. She fell ill about six weeks ago. Mrs Bennett went to my daughter’s about three weeks ago and showed me a bruise on my daughter’s leg, which she said Trongrove had caused. The bruise was black, aud as large as a penny. During his wife’s illness I only saw Trengrove in the house three times, tie was only sober once. My daughter was actually laid up and confined to her bed for four weeks. She was ailing two weeks before this, and it was during these six weeks that Mrs Bennett complained she was illtreated by her husband, X spoke to him about it and he wanted to know who told rae ? and Mrs Bennett answered she did, He was a good husband when sober but yery bad when drunk, and for the last two months was very often under the influence of liquor. Deceased was always frightened of her husband when in drink, I had sickness in my own house and was not often at Trengrove’s. To a juror ; I saw my daughter alive on Monday morning. She never com-

plained about her husband’s treatment. She never would tell me anything, as she said I had trouble enough.

To the foreman : Deceased never told me the bruise on her leg was done by her husband. She did notspean when it was shown to me. Even when in health she would never tell me anything.

To accused : You said we had been trying to poison your wife. You were very tipsy, I do no remember that you said it was a shame that we should leave her to herself for nine days. My daughter was never ailing at home. She was always well till she married you. I did say I heard you said Stringer was lazy. You asked mo who said so, and Mrs Bennett said “ I told her.” I did not refuse to go to your house because of what you said about Stringer, Ruth Stringer : I am daughter of the last witness, and sister of the deceased. I was at my sister’s during the latter part of her illness—for about three weeks. I remember Trengrove coming home about a week before her death. He was the worse for drink. He beat the pillows she was lying on, and used very bad language when she requested him to be quiet. He did not strike her then. I have seen him strike her when she was ill, I was not there when he struck her, and never told Detective Kirby I was there. I sat up with my sister for all but three nights for the last three weeks. Trengrove slept in the bed. with his wife. I was in the house with Mrs Bennett about a week ago between 10 and 11 at night. [Witness here corroborated the witness Bennett’s evidence at this point.] The deceased called to us to lake her away from her husband. We put her back to bed ; she was verr weak and unconscious. She never complained abjut her treatment and 1 never saw the marks till she was dead. She was afraid of her husband when he was in liquor. Delicacies were brought’ to my sister by neighbors, some of which Trengrove threw away. He used to drink the wine sent to her.

To the Foreman : My sister did not cry out before I went into the room to wrap the children up. My sister was partly on the floor.

To the Juror; She did not appear to be struggling to get away from her husband. She was unconscious.

To the accused : It is about a week ago that you ill-used your wife. You were sitting on the bed when she was on the floor. It was not that night you were told to go to bed. To the Coroner : I told Mrs Bennett of Trengrove’s conduct, and said it was shameful.

Edith Stringer ; I am a sister of last witness and of the deceased. I was not often at Trengrove’s house, as I was ill. I was there about a week before my sister’s death. I saw Trengrove hit deceased on the leg three weeks ago. He struck her with bis clenched fist when she was ill with fever.

Dr. Fish, sworn, said : I attended deceased constantly since the 11th April. She was suffering from low fever and confined to her bed, except for a day, about a week before her death. 1 did not see any external marks of violence on her, and she did not complain, I told Mrs Bennett to go for the police on the 21st April, as she mid Trongrove was drunk and making a disturbance. 1 have seen accused at the house, but could not say what state he was in, 1 ordered wine and nourishing food but am not aware whether deceased got it. I left special instructions that she was to get it. Mrs Bennett appeared very attentive to deceased, I made a post mortem examination with Dr Trevor. The body appeared well nourished, I observed a soar on right leg about the ankle, which appeared to have been done a few weeks ago. On removing the soalp I found bruises in the tissues extending down to the bone. 1 consider the injuries were inflicted not many days previous to death. The brain was congested, but this was dus to illness. Both lungs were congested, and there was a good deal of fluid in the perioardinm. The heart was flabby but otherwise healthy. Thera was nothing worthy of note in the stomaob. The small intestines were a good deal congested. The other organs were in such a condition as would be found in a fever case. The cause of death was fever. The blows on the head could have been caused by striking her with a clenched fist. The treatment I have heard deceased was subjected to would prejudice the case and retard recovery, I am quite satisfied it hastened death. The blow on the leg could be done with a boot. The injuries on the head could have been self inflicted, but deceased was too weak, I always hoped for her recovery till the last few days. Her mind was not perfectly clear during the last lew days. Dr Trevor corroborated the last witness’ evidence regarding the post mortem, He imagined the cause of death to be fever, and undoubtedly death would be accelerated by the treatment the witnesses stated deceased had been subjected to. The injuries on the head could be done by a fist and on the leg by a boot. This closed the evidence. The Coroner pointed out to the jury, from authorities, the difference between manslanghtar and murder. The jury retired for half an hour, and returned with a verdict of “ Murder” against Charles Tengrove, Of 18 Jurymen ihere were two dissentient* to the verdict. Accused was then committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supremo Court in Timarn which takes place in June next.