The Poisoning Case—Inquest.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4271, 8 September 1882, Page 2

The Poisoning Case—lnquest.

(Pee Pbess Association.)

Auckland, Wednesday.

The adjourned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Sarah Emily C'eaver (nee Johnston) took place yesterday afternoon. i)r Goldsbro' was presiding coroner. Mr Theo. Cooper was in attendance to watch the case on behalf Cleaver, the husband of deceased, and Mrs Butler.

Thomas Cleaver deposed he was a tailor; residing in Auckland, and was married to the deceased on Friday, the 25th ultimo, at bis mother's house in Grey street, by the Rev. Mr Hodgson. At that time her medical attendant had said that there very little hope of her Hring, and he believed she was aware of it. He had known her a little over two years, and during the whole of that time she had lived at Cambridge, being servant at the Masonic Hotel during the latter portion of the period. Was aware that in the month of July last deceased gave birth to a male child, the body of which was.afterwards found near the back wall of the yard of the hotel. He was the father.of that child, and was lodging at the Masonic Hotel,at the time of its birth. Before he left Cambridge he offered to marcy deceased as soon as she recovered from her illness. She was agreeable to that ar-; rangement. Subsequently wrote assuring! her he would not forsake her, but haTe her down to Auckland on the 19th ultimo.' Deceased arrived in town for the purpose of being married to him. She arrived about 5 p.m., and was met at the railway

station by his mother and himself. Pe* ceased did not seem very cheerful. I' was of his 'own free will that he wished to marry deceased, and not through the counsel of his mother ; and deceased herself was quite willing. Until her death saw her frequently each day. She talked very little abont her illness, but often complained of pain in her stomach, mentioning, however, no other symptoms. She did not know what was the matter with her, and expressed no opinion about it. She did not appear inclined to talk much, the cause being her weakness. On Friday, after deceased's arrival in town, was married to her. At that time the doctors had said there was very little hope of her recovery. The marriage was per" formed then, as Dr Richardson had said that the ceremony, by acting onherimnd, might cause a slight change for the better in her condition. Deceased appeared then to be in pretty good spirits. Was with deceased at the time of her death. His object in leaving deceased at Cambridge on the morning the body,.was. discovered was to prepare a home for her in Auckland when she got' better. Left with" out her consent, and without bidding her "good-bye," and even without seeing her. Had intended to hare gone into her room" to see ■ her, but her sister was there, and refrained. During the whole of her illness she constantly expressed her belief that she would get better of this " terrible weakness " in a few days, and never uttered a wish to die; neither did she say or do anything leadinghim to imagine that she contemplated suicide. Had,no groundg whatever for belieting she did commit suicide. When he knew that deceased was pregnant, and before the child was born, offered to marry her; also offered to take h*er to his mother's house in order that the child might be born there, and that would have been done had the birth not t.ken place prematurely. His mother did not insist upon him marrying the girl, saying that "If he did not he was no, son ,of hers." She brought no pressure to bear on him for that purpose. Could not assign any cause for unfriendly feeling between deceased's father and himself; there was.no cause. -Before anything of this affair came out, and just after he became acquainted with his daughter he gave him a lot of abuse in front of an hotel. There was another quarrel between them at Mr Jagg's, and it was caused; by the.discovery that his daughter was in child to witness. On the occasion of the marriage deceased's father thrpatebedto.shoot Him.'.

j Mrs Robert Cleaver corroborated his , testimony as to what occurred from the ' time of arrival of deceasedin Auckland up to the time of her death, more especially what'took place on the evening alter the arrival.' Deceased had tea at Mrs Butler's, went for a walk, and had-tea for supper. At the first meal Clearer was not present, nnd at supper witness' servant girl. Eose Erth, a young girl in Mrs Butler's service, and at whose house deceased stayed after her arrival^ gave generr!ly corroborative evidence, but there was a noticeable point elicited. - It appears "that when she went into the bedroom about midday to empty the slops, deceased was in bed. ■ Sbe asked her if she was about to empty them ; and, on the girl replying affirmatively, deceased tcok from under her pillow a prce of thin soft white'paper, about 'five inches square, which she tore up and threw in the" washband b^sin. This was thrown with the slop3.in the yard, and the pirces remained'about for days. Sbe remarked to Mrs Butler that she thought it was a seidliiz powder," but she denied ever having said she thought it contained rat poison. The inquest on Mrs Cleaver was re--1 sumed at mid-day. Mrs Butler, in whose residence deceased was taken ill, bas not "been examined.