MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 206, 11 January 1872, Page 5

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.

A death under peculiarly mouraful circumstances occurred in Gabriel's Gully, on the night of Thursday last. It appears that the wife of Mr. Cousens, of the Blue Spur, left Lawrence to return to her home, on the evening of the day stated. She was accompanied over the first bridge by Mrs. Roberts, of Lawrence, and later in the evening was observed by Mrs. Joyce (who resides in Gabriel's Gully), sitting down on the roadside, apparently resting herself. ' Deceased was not afterwards seen alive. The weather during the night was wet and stormy, which prevented the poor woman's cries for help, if she uttered any, from being heai-d, and she suffered and perished unattended and alone.

An inquest on the remains of the unfortunate woman, was held on Saturday, t by the Coroner (Mr. W. L Simpson).' After the. jury had viewed; the body' the folloViug evidence ;was, taken. " . , John 'pousens, deposed that the body wa*s thafc'of lite late wife, Ann Cousens. He last' sa,w her alive at about; halfpast 12 o'clock on Thursday the 4th inst, when it wzte arranged that she! should go to Lawrence on business, i When witness came home in the 1 evening, deceased had not returned :

He went to bed at half-past ten. Witness did not think it strange that deceased was not home before he went to bed, as the night being stormy and wee, and she having a sum of money in her possession, he felt satisfied she had remained in Lawrence. Prior to her departure to . Lawrence, there had been no quarrel between himself and deceased. They lived happily together. Witness was going in quest of her, when he was told she was in a sad state down the gully. She had £73 in her possession.

Mrs. Roberts stated, that Mrs. Cousens called on her during the afternoon of Thursday, and had one or two glasses of beer and some tea. She (deceased) had £73 in a handkerchief in her bosom. Witness went with Mrs Cousens over the first bridge, on her way home, and heard nothing moie of her till the following morning.

Mrs. Joyce said she saw Mrs. Cousens sitting opposite her house, apparently taking a rest, on Thursday evening. There did not seem to be anything the matter with her. Witness went to bed at her usual hour. She heard no noise during the night, but towards daybreak fancied she heard a slight " cooey " or scream, which caused her to get up and look through the window, but seeing nothing she returned to bed again. The night was wet and stormy. Witness was awoke about 7 o'clock on Fridaj morning by Mr. Campbell, who said there was a woman lying dead at her door. She got up and was the body of deceased lying about 25 to 30 yards from her (witness') door.

D. Campbell deposed that about 7 o'clock on Friday morning, when <^oing into Lawrence, lie saw the body lying -ou the side of the road. He -it first thought ib was a bundle of clothes. Another look showed him that it was the body of a female. He went up and shook it. The body was stiff and the clothes saturated with blood. He woke up the neighbours, aud upon closer examination discovered the body to be that of Mrs. Cousens. The body was lying about 22 yards from Mr. Joyce's house. Witness sent word to the husband of deceased and gave notice to the police.

Dr. Halley said he male a post mortem, examination of the body. There were no marks of violence, but fchere was a slight scratch on the kneo. Death was caused by haemorrhage of the uteruis occasioned either by over exertion or a fall. In answer to i juryman Dr. Halley stated that the life of deceased would have been saved, had * she received medical attendance in proper time.

The jury returned a verdict inaccordance with the medical testimony.