CORONER'S INQUEST.

West Coast Times, Issue 308, 18 September 1866, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday, by Dr Beswick, the district coroner, at Gillespie'e Sawyers Amis Hotel, upon the body of Mrs Kirby, who died suddenly, on Saturday night last, at Mr Sankey's store, Gibson's Quay. Robert S. Kirby, being sworn, deposed that he was a master mariner, at present commanding the schooner Mary Jane, and residing in a cottage on Gibson's Quay. The deceased woman was his wife. . On Saturday evening his wife came on board the schooner, and took tea, after, which he accompanied her into Revell street. Stayed there but a short time, and then returned home, calling at Mr North's Dining Rooms on their way, where they remained about ten minutes, and made a few purchases. Left there about a quarter past, nine, and walked towards their house up the tramway, but had not gone above two hundred yards when deceased complained of difficulty in breathing, and said she should like to sit down on & log for a few minutes. She sat down, and in

a few minutes felt better, and said she would take •witness' arm, and walk home slowly. Proceeded along the trdraway until abreast of Sankey's store— then the deceased suddenly became worse, and said "run away home, Bob, with the child, and return for me quickly. 1 ' She then walked quickly into the store, and sat down, and witness was about to take home the child, when the storekeeper called him back. He obeyed the summons, aud not thinking his wife was so ill as she seemed, asked her to sit quietly, whilst he went for one of Ihe neighbors, or to fetch a doctor. She, however, beckoned him to her side, put her arm round his neck, and seized his hand, saying, " Bob, don't leave me." Whilst in that position witness sat down and held her up, and she nestled her head into his breast. For about three minutes' she never stirred, aud witness, feeling alarmed, lifted her head, and saw foam issuing from her nose and mouth, and from the pallor of her face he concluded she was -dead. A doctor was sent for, and arrived shortly, who, after examination, said he feared it was all over, but would try to restore her. He applied restoratives, but without avail. She was quite dead. By the Coroner — Nothing had transpired during the day to excite her. She appeared in rather better health that evening. Was naturally delicate, and complained that during the absence of witness on his last voyage she had been seized with fainting fits on tw ) occasions, and requested he would get someoae to stay with her whilst he was at sea. They had been married about two years and a half. - Grace Francis deposed that she was the wife of James Francis. On Saturday night last Mr Sankey called her down to his store. On arriving there, found Mrs Kirby sitting on a bag and leaning back in her husband's arms. Whilst witness was looking at her she gave a sudden gasp, and her lower jaw fell. A quantity of froth issued from her mouth aud nostrils, and the handkerchief lying upon her lap was stained with blood. Thinking she was in a fit, witness despatphed a man for medical aid, and then laid her on a mattress, and tried to restore her. She never once moved; and when the doctor arrived he pronounced her dead. Richard N. Saukey deposed that he was a storekeeper residing on Gibson's Quay. About nine o'clock on Saturday night Mrs Kirby walked rapidly into his store. This witness merely corroborated the evidence of the two preceding witnesses. Samuel Winter deposed that he > v as mate of the' schooner Mary Jane. He knew the deceased to be the captain's wife. On Saturday evening last she came on board the schooner. -Captain Kirby at the time being absent at the Kanieri. — This .witness merely substantiated a portion of the captain's evidence. He never saw Mrs Kirby alive again after she left the vessel. Dr Berndt deposed that he was a duly qualified medical man. On Saturday evening he was called in to attend a woman lying ill at a store on Gibson's Quay. She was reported as dangerously ill. Witness at once proceeded to the place indicated, and found her lying" on a mattress, to all appearances dead. He nevertheless tried v to restore her ; but without success. Since then he made a post mortem examination of^ the body, the result being, that by external inspection he did notf observe anything indicating that any violence had been used. On opening the skull, found traces of chronic mflamation of the brain, the white substance of the brain being very full and creamy. The heart was in • a diseased state, especially the left ventricle, which was very flabby, and containing about one ounce of blood. The heart lay over the left lung, pressing it back, and the lower lobe was in a state of great passive congestion. Iv the cavity between the lungs found about three ounces of dark fluid blood. The, other organs were healthy. In witness' opinion death was caused by pulmonary apoplexy in conjunction with atrophy of the heart. • This concluded the evidence, and the jury at once returned a verdict of " Died from natural causes."