A Lamentable Career.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4354, 14 December 1882, Page 2

A Lamentable Career.

DRINKING TO, DEATH.

(FEOM OUB OWN COEBEBPONDSNT . ) Auckland, This day. The evidence of Mary Reilly, who passed herself off as Hardy's wife, was as follows at the inquest s—She was the divorced wife of Geo. Frederick Standish, and was a dressmaker. She lived at present at the Customhouse Hotel. Last Monday fortnight was introduced to deceased in Queen ttreet. He asked her to go into the Auckland Hotel and hare a drink with him. Witness had a glass of beer, and deceased had a glass of port wine and brandy/ He .asked i£ she had any objection to go up the street wifa him, and they went up. to Sanr- Cox's restaurant, Wellesley street, and had. I supper, afterwards going to the Opera House. Deceased asked her to live with him and she consented. Was not a prostitute, , but she was,„ not married to him. ' Lived with vhim jjill he was brought to the Hospital. Deceased had been drinking for three weeks past, and she believed for months previously. On Friday Jast went to the Opera House, but deceased was too drunk, and had to come oat before the opera was ■ over. Witness went out with him, and he fell down on the pavement, but did not seem injured. She went for a cab, and took him to a place in Grey street kept by T. P. Richmond, where they had been from .the previous Monday. When they alighted from the cab deceasfd caught her round the neck, and they both fell down together. The cabman and Mr Pearce carried her inside, and deceased lay still on the ground. She believed it was then that he got the cut on the temple. Deceased was taken into the house and had the gravel washed off his face. He was then laid on the floor to sleep, and she Jay on the sofa. She was drunk too, having been drinking with him. The next morning (Saturday).-• on going upstairs saw deceased lying in % bed awake. She went and asked Andrew Heavy, pawnbroker^-to, whom Bhe had been housekeeper, to come up to Rich* mond's and see deceased. He invited deceased and witness to come and stop at his place in Wynyard street, and she got a cab and took him there.. On Saturday evening the deceased and witness went out for a walk, and returned and stopped there that night. On Sunday they went out for a drive to Otahuhu and Onehnnga. Heavy accompanying them- Returned to town and went to the Swan Inn about 5.30 o'clock in the evening, and deceased lay down there to sleep, as he was drunk. He got drink at Otahuhu and Onehunga. Witness was sober, having only had two glasses of brandy and lemonade. The people at the Swan would not let him stay there, so about 8 or 9 o'clock they went to the Custom. House Hotel, kept by Mr Archard. Deceased was still drunk, and went to. bed and lay until next day (Monday) till two or three o'clock. Deceased had been awake most of the morning, though in bed. He got up and went upstairs and lay on the .sofa. De« ceased wan still drinking, but Archard would not give him as much as he wanted. He remained within doors next day (Tuesday), and was laughing and joking in the morning, and had some beef tea for breakfast. He was drinking- as usual, principally brandy and water.. Before he went to Orchard's Hotel be took all sorts of drink. At ISO p.m. deceased took a convulsive fit, f * Mr Archard^ sent for Dr Tennant, who came and gave him 'some .medicine.. _He said if deceased did not get better he shotrid- ha- .sent to the Hospital. As deceased gofc worse, Mr Archard sent for a cab, and witness and he took him to the district hospital, and handed him over to the head nurse. Deceased was a sashtnaker, aged 40, single, and had come up from Waipukurau, Napier, three months ago. He had a brother at Waipukurau, and a cousin at Taranaki. Had money in the Union Bank at Auckland, but she did not know the amount. Spent about £5 a day. She had no money of his in her possession, but one or two articles, which she handed over to the detective.-