THE LATE MISS HOWELL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8399, 13 April 1907, Page 5

THE LATE MISS HOWELL.

PROCEEDINGS AT THE. INQUEST.

DEATH DUE TO -ZINC. POISONING. NO BLAME ATTACHABLE TO ANYONE. An inquest on the body of the late Miss Victtoria Howell, who died at Castlepaimt,, on January 23rd last, was held yesterday in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr W. P. James, S.M., District Coroner. The interest that .was taken by the public generally in the proceedings was manifested by the large attendance of the public .present, the space reserved for spectators being crowded all .day-

The jury was comprised as follows: —Messrs H. T. Wood (foreman), G. Long, E. Mirams, L. E. Richards, R., Krahagan and F. J. Dupre. Mr H. D. Bell appeared on behalf •of the Crowq, and Miss Hall ;vas represented by Mr P. L. Hollings. Mr B. J. Dolan watched the proceedings on behalf of Mr R. E. Howell, brother of the deceased, and the next of kin. Police Inspector Ellison was, also, present. At the commencement of the proceedings the Coroner -.said that the Chief Health Officer had considered that another exhumation of the body would be injurious to public health, and under the Act of 1892 it would not be necessary for ihe jury to view the body of the deceased. Mr Bell, in opening the case, said he did not propose to address the jury at any length. He desired to explain to them why they had been called to hold an inquest on the death of Miss Howell, and to very briefly place before them the nature of the evidence they would have to consider. The deceased occupied, with Miss Hall, a nursing home, and the pair had lived together for some considerable time before the death of Miss Howell. On December 19th Dr. Ross was called in to attend Miss Howell. That was the first attendance by a medical man. On January 23rd Miss Howell died. For 3ome time before Dr. Ross was called in Miss Howell had been ill. The symptoms were that she had been vomiting. It was a matter for very serious consideration whether ■ the symptoms were or were not the symptoms that appeared after the arrival of the deceased at Castlepoint Dr. Ross saw her at both places, and was satisfied that the symptoms at I each place were entirely different. There was very little else Jto guide the jury. On December 25th, much against Dr. Ross' advice, but certainly in accordance with a strong desire cf the patient, she was taken to Castlepoint, at which place it had been previously arranged a holiday j spent. She got as far as j Blairlogie on Christmas Day, her brother. Mr R. E. Howell, accom ■ panying her that far. He would tell the jury what took place. Miss Howell said she was suffering from thirst, and irritation of the stomach. On .the evening of December 26th the party reached Mr Groves' house at Tinui. Next day they arrived at Castlepoint. At that place Miss Howell, became violently ill, and was vomiting constantly. The symptoms included jaundice, which would be the natural accompaniment of inflammation of the stomach, or it might be a symptom of poisoning. Dr. Ross saw the patient again on January 4th. In the meantime she had been attended by Dr. Dawson. Dr. Ross said when he saw her that death was written in her face. She was v6miting and was exceedingly weak. For some reason or other, which was not explained so far, Miss Hall objected to the presence of the patient's sister, who had come to Castlepoint consequent upon a telogram being received from Miss Hall stating the seriousness of the patient's case. There was an objection to the sister' being in the Bick room, and friction arose between her and Miss Hall. Upon the death of Miss Howall it transpired that a will was made in which she had given all her property to Miss Hall. The effect of the two circumstances on the relatives of the deceased led to representations being made to the proper authorities with a request to know the proper cause ofdea:h. Dr. Dawson certified that death was due to cancer, but counsel contended that Dr. Dawson was wrong, as the result of the post mortem examination showed. Dr. Ross ought to have known if there was a cancer, and, therefore, there was reason to doubt Dr. Dawson's certificate. Dr. Dawson imagined he felt a lump in the deceased's abdomen. There was reason, therefore, for the family to demand further enquiry, and accordingly the warrant of the Colonial Secretary was given for the exhumation of the body before a Government officer. The post mortem examination disclosed zinc in the body, and in sufficient quantities to cause death. It was noticed, however, that the capsules of the bottles containing the parts of the body were of zinc, and in order to have no doubt about the zinc being in the body a second exhumation was held. The second exhumation produced the same result as the first; that there was zinc in the body. For that reason the jury were called together, out the facts of the case, and ascertain the cause of death. It appeared, continued counsel, that at the house where the deceased lived at Castlepoint there were two new tanks and shortly after the party arrived there a heavy shower of rain fell. It was possible that there was a sufficient quantity of zinc in the water to account for the zinc in the body. The Government Analyst had found that an enormous quantity of water would have to be drunk to make the quantity of zinc found in the body; that is if there was no more zinc in the tank than was found in the water. The Crown had secured some samples of the water from the tank afterwards, but the composition of the water was altered since the deceased had drunk it. In conclusion he asked the jury to listen carefully to the facts of the case. Robert Edward Howell, auctioneer, deposed that he was a brother of the deceased. He was present at an exhumation of a body in the Masterton cemetery on February 12th. The body was that of his sister. His sister had lived with Miss Hall between three and four years. They had latterly a nursing home in Masterton for about eighteen months. They had a homq first in Lincoln >

Road. They sold that and bought the Cornwall Street home to carry on nursing. He first heard of his sister's illness about four or five days before last Christmas. He heard of the illness by telephone from Mrs Strang. He had not heard of the illnessjeither from his sister or Miss Hall. He did not go and see his sister before Christmas day, when she came to his house in cor.ipany with Mr and Mrs Strang. There was an arrangement made with Miss Hall that witness should go as far as Taueru with his sister„on their way to Castlepoint. Not till he got to Taueru did he know what was wrong with his sister. He noticed at his own house that she was looking very ill. Witness drove to Taueru in the same vehicle as his sister and Miss Hall was acccompaned by Dr. Spratt, an inmate of the nursing home. On two occasions on the way out, his sister asked for a drink. At Taueru his sister said she could not keep any food in her stomach, and complained that she had a pain across her stomach. She did not say for how long she had been ill. At Taueru he left his sister and returned to Masterton. Miss Hall and the deceased went on towards Blairlogie. He next saw his sister on January 4th, when he took Dr. Ross out to Castlepoint in consequence of a telephone message from Miss Hall stating that his sister was very ill, and that Dr. Dawson held out little hope for her recovery. When he saw his sister on this occasion he noticed a very great change in her appearance. Her cheeks were very hollow. She said that she could not keep anything, not even water, on her stomach. After his visit on January 4th, he returned to Masterton on January sth, Dr. Ross having left Castlepoint earlier in the morning. The next time he saw the deceased was on January 11th, when he took another sister, Mrs Butler, to Castlepoint. During the interval between bis visits Miss Hall rang him up on several occasions stating that his sister was no better. Before he went to Castlepoint on January 11th he received a telegram from Miss Hall asking him Ito come at once as his sister was dying. When he arrived, at Castlepoint, he attended to the horses while his sjster, Mrs Butler, went in to the house. When he entered the house he went into the deceased's room. The latter was apparently sleeping. Going out into the kitchen he saw Dr. Dawson, Mr Groves and Mrs Butler. The latter said that the deceased had been asking for|witness, who replied that he had just seen her but she appeared to be sleeping. Mrs Butler then went to see the deceased. Mrs Hall cajne out shortly afterwards in an excited state, and asked Dr. Dawson to remove Mrs Butler as the patient did not wish to see her. Dr. Dawson went into the patient's room, and shortly afterwards returned and asked witness to take Mrs Butler away. Witness declined to do anything of the kind after coming a long journey to see his dying sister.' He went into the patient's room, and asked his sister if it was true that she did not wish to see Mrs Butler. She replied, "No," and added that she said she did not want any fuss. Witness and Mrs Butler meant to stop at the house that night, but Miss Hall said there was no accommodation for Mrs Butler. No attempt was made to bring the deceased back to Masterton. Witness heard of her death on January 23rd, and was present at her funeral. After the funeral witness went to the nursing home and asked Miss Hall if there was a 1 will'of the deceased. He was accompanied by his solicitor, Mr Dolan. At first Miss Hall said she was not sure about a will, but afterwards Miss Hall said she thought there was a will with either Mr Beard or Mr Woltars, Car-, terton. The will was susequently brought from Carterton by Mr Beard. Not since the deceased had been in Masterton had she mentioned to him what she was going to do with her property,

By Mr Hollings: Bdfore taking the nursing home in Lincoln Road, witness knew that Miss Hall and his sister had a nursing establishment at Clareville. During their residence at Clareville his sister told him that if she made a will she would make him her executor. He did not think she said that she had made a will. He would not say whether the liking between Miss Hall and his sister was ihutual. It must have been over 20 years ago when Miss Hall and his sister became acquainted. He did not know whether they had entered into partnership for the deceased's benefit. He repeated that he did not know of the iilness of his sister before he was told by Mrs Strang over the telephone. He did not know that the trip to Castlepoint was arranged at Mrs Groves' invitation. His sister had looked forward to going to Castlepoint, and she was happy at the opportunity of going. It was a hot day when he and his sister k and the remainder of the party set out for Castlepoint, and it was natural that his sister should be thirsty. When he visited his sister at Castlepoint,, he was never on any occasion forbidden by Miss Hall to see his sister. When Mrs Butler was told by Miss Hall to leave the sick room, he did not hear the exact conversation. Dr. Dawson had spoken very strongly to him about the removal of Mrs Butler. He would not say whether the unpleasantness at Castlepoint was between Miss Hall and Mrs Butler or Dr. Dawson and Mrs Butler. He had perfect access to the deceased's papers, but he was not looking for another will. ' He did not know that there was a will.

Dr. W. S. Ross said he employed Miss Hall and the deceased on several occasions, and had known the doceased long 1 before her death. The first occasion on which he saw Miss Howell as a patient was at the nursing home in Cornwall Street about December 19th. She appeared then to be suffering from influenza. She had vomited a couple of times, was weak and suffered from loss of appetite. These details he obtained from both the deceased and Miss Hall. When he next saw the patient on December 19th he noticed that the weakness had increased. He saw her about three times more before she left for Gastlepoint at Christmas. She was in bed on each occasion that he saw her, and he recommended her to stay there. She improved slightly before she went to Gastlepoint, but not sufficiently to allow her to get up. Her pulse was feverish, and somewhat rapid. He as quite clear that there as no gastritis at this time.

The pains in her stomach' and the vomiting he attributed to.the influenza, and gastric catarchi On the first, occasion that he saw the patient he was informed that she and Miss Hall had been planning a trip to Castlepoint. When asked if Miss Howell, could go he replied that he did not. think so. The next time he saw Miss Howell was on December 24th. She asked him again if she cnuld goI to Castlepoint, and he replied that it j would not be a wise proceeding. He said "o more. He next saw patient at Castlepoint on January 4fch. She was it) a afc:ite of collapse, and was very thin. Her face was; sunken and she was vomiting violently and continuously, and had all the appearances of a person about to die. He then attribated the constant vomiting to gastritis, lie 1 could not account for the cause of gastritis. He thought it might, have been one of the n inifesr,icions of influenza in a very severe form. The symptoms at that time were consistent with those caused by metallic poisoning, with the exception that there was no pain felt by the patient. He prescribed for her then, but did not see her again. He heard occasionall how she was getting on after January 4th, and learnt that she was still constantly vomiting. The quantity of zinc found in the body would have accounted for the symptoms, noticed by him. The symptoms of the deceased when he saw her last were, also, consistent with those of' gastritis in a very acute form. Knowing the result of the post mortem he would say that death was due to zinc poisoning. Witness repeated that when he saw the patient at Castlepoint the symptoms were quite different to those that existed before she went to the Coast. He had no reason whatever to suppose that cancer existed at any time in the deceased. By Mr Hollings: If the presence of zinc brought on death he thought the zinc must have been obtained at Castlepoint. He went on to say that the chloride in the sea air or spray tended to render the zinc on roofs of houses near the sea soluble. That would be the effect in regard to the roof of the house in which Miss Howell was staying. The zinc from the roof thus effected by the sea air would go into the new tanks after a shower of rain. He understood that Miss Howell had drank water from the tanks before the roof of the house was painted. Having regard to these circumstances, witness would say that the zinc got into the body from the tank water, if the pa ierit drank large quantities of water. The presence of gastritis wou'd not make a great deal of difference, but it would have a tendency to do so. ' He was aware of the quotation referred to by examining counsel, that the use of galvanised iron vessels had been forbidden in the French Navy on account of the danger of zinc poisoning.

By Mr Dolan: During his ten years of colonial experience he had not known a case of zinc poisoning. If there was zinc in the* tanks it was just as likely to effect other persons as well as Miss Howell. He thought three weeks would be time enough for the deceased's body to become impregnated with zinc. Reviewing the facts of the case, he thought there were a great many difficulties in the way of zinc chloride being the cause of death. Witness gave further evidence as to the medicines he had prescribed for ihe deceased. Florence Isabella Hall was the next witness called.

On stepping into the box, the Coroner informed the witness that she was not bound to give evidence, but anything she had to say would be taken down in writing and used if occasion required. Mr Hollings said he had advised the witness to give evidence. She> was anxious to give the Court all the information she could, The witness stated that she had known Miss Howell for twenty years. She first entered into business relations with her five years ago. They purchased a nursing home at Clareville, and lived there 35 years before selling out. Miss Howell put £3OO into the purchase of the Clareville property. Witness had £l5O then. When they purchased the second home in Lincoln Road for £7OO, Miss Howell found all the purchase money with the exception of £4OO on mortgage. There was £IOO profit on the sale of the Lincoln Road property. When they bought the property in Cornwall Street the purchase money was £1,050, and about £3OO was spent in alterations and improvements. There was a mortgage on this property of £950. Miss Howell had put considerably more money into the venture than her. They were in the Cornwall Street home for about twelve months. The business did not show any profit. Witness still occupied the home, but the business was not good on account of rumours connected with Miss Howell's death. She knew that Miss Howell's will was made in her favour about 3£ years ago. Witness, also, made her own will out in favour of the deceased about the same time. When Miss Howell first became ill the .symptoms were that she felt tired and weary. Witness had'not known her to be ill in her life before. The sickness started on December 19th, and witness sent for Dr. Ross. Mis 3 Howell had not vomited before that date. Miss Howell was not sick from December 20th until five days after she arrived at Castlepoint. She improved in condition for a while after reaching Castlepoint. At house in Castlepoint the Groves family stayed with her and Miss Howell. Mrs Johnston and children came to later. There were three tanks at the house, two of which were new. The water in the tank nearest Miss Howell's room was used by her for washing and drinking purposes. No one else in the house used the water in the same tank until shortly before Miss Howell's death, when all the household drank the water from the same tank on account of one of the other tanks becomingdry. None of the household took ill, except one of Mrs Johnston's children. Witness sent for Dr. Dawson, who said ths illness was due to the water. It did not occur to her that the water that poisoned the child might be the cause of MiSs Howell's illness. Knowing the result of the analysis of the body, she believed death to be due to zinc poisoning, but otherwise she could not say what the cause of death was. Regarding the trouble between witness and Mrs Butler at Castlepoint, witness stated that she asked Mrs Butler not to stay in the sick

room wliile the patient was sleeping. Witness went to Dr. Dawson and ; told him to keep Mrs Butler away. The doctor informed Mr Howell that if there was going to be any trouble, he (Mr Howell) would have to put the horses in and drive Mrs Butler away. Witness saw Mrs Butler afterwards, and asked her to stay till the following Monday in order to remove Miss Howell. Mrs Butler would not stay. Dr. Dawson said .he would have to give up the case if Mrs Butler stayed. Mrs Butller WGnt in and out of the patient's room, and at four o'clock in the afternoon -left the house, The only medicine witness took to Castlepoint from Masterton was two bottles of the first compound prescribed by 'r. Ross and •a bottle of castor oil. She did not introduce anything into the house containing, to her knowledge, any compound of zinc. The only other bottles sho got were a bottle of methyllated spirits and a bottle of claret purchased at Blairlogie. She took nothing from the nursing rooms but her luggage. For the first three days at Castlepoint, Mrs Groves prepared the food, and after that witness prepared what little food the deceased ate. She had some medicine sent from Mr E. G. Eton, for Miss Howell, _ by coach, and in addition she received some sherry from Mr 3 Strang and some medicine for herself which Mrs Strang got from Mr Eton's. By Mr Hollings: When witness left the Lincoln Road home the financial position of the partnership! was about'the same as when they started business. Witness had had a good deal of nursing experience before she met Miss Howell, who, she said, nud had no experience. The circumstances which induced witness to make her will in favour of the deceased, about three .years ago, was because witness was seriously ill at the time. Some little time later, Miss Howell made out her will in favour of witness. It was simply a mutual understanding in connection with the partnership. Dr. Ross had never told her not to take Miss , Howell to Castlepoint. After the last visit of Dr. Ross to Miss Howeil the latter said that the doctor had given her permission jjto go to Castlepoint provided the journey was made in easy stages, and the necessary medicine was taken out. It was noc the custom of witness to drink much cold water, but Miss Howell drank water in large quantities. She drank about a pint and a half of water during every two hours of the day. Witness ard Mrs Butler were practically strangers, but it was at the latter's suggestion, for various rea- , sans, that witness and Miss Howell formed a partnership. Witness nursed the deceased single-handed all through her illness, and would have been glad had Mrs Butler remained and assisted her in the nursing duties. Witness informed Mr Howell, when he called at her house after the death, that he was executor of the deceased's will. Mr Howell said he j thought that there might be a later I will. She informed him that the will j would be brought from Carterton, i Witness said she was on the best of j terms with the deceased all the time of their partnership. By Mr Dolan: At the time the property was purchased in Cornwall Street witness had no money. The names of both parties were on the titles of each property owned by wit- , ness and Miss Howell. Witness said she had a brother who was a chemist, but who was now not in business. She had had no communication or received any parcels from him during the past three years. Witness maintained that she did not place the slighest hindrance in the way of Mrs Butler seeing Miss Howell at Castlepoint. Witness denied telling Mr Howell that there was anything , wrong with the will that she had made out in favour of Miss Howell in October. 1903. Dr. Dav/son, of Tinui, sworn by affirmation, stated that he was acting as locum tonens for Dr. Hunter. On December 31st, 1906, he was first called to attend the late Miss Howell. He was at Woodville at the time and did not see Miss Howell until January 2nd. When he called he did not know that Dr. Ross had previously been attending Miss Howell. When he first saw the patient her face was anxious looking, her eyes were staring and every now and again she vomited. The vomit consisted of mucus and a coffeeground substance. Her pulse was also very rapid. Witness sounded her heart and lungs and found no disease in either. On examining the abdomen he found the epigastrium tender to the touch. From the very first he held out no hope for the patient's recovery. The reason why he gave a certificate that death was due to cancer was on account of the history of the case, and a. palpable mass which he knew existed in the abdomen. Asked if he still adhered to his certificate as to the cause of death, he said he did not now think that death was due to cancer. About the time that he was attending to Miss Howell he treated two children one belonging to Mrs Groves and the other to Mrs Johnston, who were suffering from zinc poisoning. The children He did not attribute Miss Howell's illness to the same source as that of the children. He did not know that the symptoms of Miss Howell; at Castlepoint were different from those in Masterton.

By Mr Rollings: He did not attend the post mortem examination. He thought that a section should have fc-jen made through the pylorus before being boiled A for analysis. In this Way a.iy existing signs of cancer would been discovered. When Mrs Butler came to visit the patient he t'-ionght it his duty, as a doctor, not to let her stay too long with th2 patient. On January 15th he noticed the roof of the house where Miss HowcJl was staying. It was cavored with white spots, which was oxide of z'nc. The common salt from the sea mixed with the oxide of zinc formed zinc chloride. The last substance was washed into the tanks after the first shower of rain, and the water in the tanks would, therefore, contain zinc poison. Another thing, said the doctor, was the loose soldering of the tanks. By Mr Dolan: In his opinion the zinc chloride washed into the tank would poison the water. That water was being consumed by Miss Howell at the rate of a pint and a half every two hr urs for about three weeks. He th vght at the time that the water tr.'i't Miss Howell was drinking was ' eing procured from a station some distance from the house, otherwise he would have treated the water in the tajiks at the house with lime.

Witness had no objection to holding a post mortem examination, but he received no notice of the intention to hold one.

Dr. W. K. Fyffe, medical officer employed by the Government to hold the post mortem on the body of Miss Howell, was the next witness. In witness' report it was stated, inter alia, that there was no growth in the stomach. There was an absence of bacteria, and this could only be accounted for by the presence of strong zinc poisoning in the body. There was absolutely no can - cer in the body. The only way to account for death were tne signs of irritant poison in the body. If there were no such signs witness would have had to guess the cause of death. Dr. J. S MacLaurin, Government Analyst, said he received portions of the body for analysis and made an exhaustive search for mineral poisons, also for cantharidin. He examined less thoroughly for alkaloids. With the exception of zinc and a trace of lead no poisonous substance was found. When the second examination was made zinc was found. Assuming Miss Howell to be 12st weight, the proportion of zinc in the body was 16.4 grains, which is equal to 34.4 grains of sine chloride or 72.2 grains of crystallised zinc sulphate. The water in the tank at Castlepoint, from samples he had, contained an unusually large amount of zinc, but did not contain sufficient to account for the quantity found in the body. It was probable that the water used by the deceased contained still larger quantities. There appeared to have been more zinc present in the tank water at the time Miss ' Howell was using the water than at the time he received the samples. There was mor: zinc in tank water after a long spell oi dry weather than at any other time. Undoubtedly there was sufficient zinc in the water to cause severe irritant poisoning. Percy Bellis, land agent, stated that ha owned the house in which Miss Howell stayed at Castlepoint. He was there when she arrived, and was about the place on and off until Miss Howell died. When the party arrived there was only one tank V/ith water in it. Two tanks were newly erected. A heavy shower of rain fell and put water into the ■ tanks after the arrival of Miss ! Howell and party. He tasted the water, but did not like it and did not think it was fit to drink, lie did not know that the party in the house were using the tank. He did not mention to anyone that the water in the tank was bad.

W. G. Beard, barrister and solicitor, said he had wills made by the late Miss Howell and Miss Hall in his possession. The wills were produced in Court.

By Mr Hollings: -In his opinion, if the partnership were wound up at the time of the death of Miss Howell, each partner would have come out without any money. The mortgage they received from him on the Cornwall Street property was in excess of what they would probably have received from any other mortgagee. He should say that, financially, Miss Hall profited in no way by the death of Miss Howell.

John Albert M. Groves, sheepfarmer, of Tinui, said he travelled with Miss Hall and JViiss Howell to Castlepoint. Miss Howell was very weak on the road but was "ot seriously iil. A few days after his arrival in Castlepoint he noticed a change for the worse in Miss Howell's appearance. He did not know that the new tank was being used by the patient for drinking until after a heavy downfall of rain. One of his boys was taken bad through drinking the tank water. Witness was going to put lime in the water but neglected to do so.

By Mr Hollings: It was only natural that Miss Howell should use the water in the new tank because of its proximity to her room. Louise Butler, sister of the deceased, deposed that she first saw her sister during her fatal illness at Castlepoint. She had not seen her for a year prior to that. Explaining the trouble that took place with Miss Hall at the house, witness said that Miss Hall told her that there was no room in the house for her to stay. Witness -denied that Miss Hall pressed her to stay. She did not think she disturbed her sister, who was unconscious for a great part of the time while witness was there. Witness declared that she was calm while Miss Hall was in a rage. Dr. Dawson was not in the house all the time witness was there. When witness and her brother were leaving the patient seemed to revive a little and was able to say good-bye and to express a hope that she would be able tq travel on the following Monday. Inspector Ellison gave evidence as to being present at the two exhumations, and post morfcems. He had the sections of the body conveyed to the Government Analyst under his supervision. He had enquiries made among the retail and wholesale chemists for any purchases of zinc poison. It was found that Miss Hall had not made any purchases of zinc poison. He also searched the nursing home in Cornwall Street, ands had samples of the water taken from the tanks at Castlepoint. Miss Hall had given him every facility in searching the home. This concluded the evidence.

The Coroner, in concluding his address to the jury, said that in all probability death was the result of zinc being taken into the body, but how and by what means the zinc got into the body there did not seem much evidence to show. If the jury connected any person with the administering of zinc to Miss Howell it was their duty to return a verdict of murder. On the other hand, if they did not connect any person with the deed it was their duty to give a verdict of death due to zinc poisoning, with no blame attachable to anyone. The jury retired at 5.40 p.m., and returned ten minutes later with the verdict that the deceased met her death by zinc poisoning, caused by drinking water from a tank at Castlcpoint, and that no blame was attachable to anyone. That the verdict was a popular one was evident from the low "Hear, hears" heard in the body of the Court.