THE CONWAY CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4746, 13 June 1894, Page 3

THE CONWAY CASE.

The Custodian's Statement At yest/ifa's meeting of the HospihMWßPrcforonce was made to the Conway Case, The Secretary read tho following report from Mr J. Williams, the Custodian of the Hospital, bearing upon the matter;— Ec the late Conway's case. At about 3.30 p.m. on Saturday Ist hist, two men eamc to the Hospital—Delaney ami the late Conway. Delaney asked permission to sec Lansdownc, n patient. I in. formed him that it was against the rules to allow any visitors to enter the Hospital on Saturdays. Ho asked when would he be permitted to visit Lausdowne. I told him not before 2.30 on Sunday, but finding that Delaney and Laosdowne wercpartucrs.on a Government contract, and that his visit was an important one relative to the contract, I granted his request for a short visit, Prior to entering tho hall he introduced Conway as a patient. I asked for the usiial certificates, and was handed an official document addressed DrHosking Esq.,.andwas told that Conway obtained it from a J.P, I directed Conway to call on Dr. Hoskiug and deliver the letter, and if on examination the Doctor found ho was a lit subject for treatment ho would be admitted to tho Hospital. I also asked him the nature of the complaint from which ho was sufferiiiK aud was informed that it was a bad cold. I fcn&cdthe two ( men when comiug up that Conway was rather unsteady in his gait, aud during tho interview thcro was a strong smell of alcohol, which determined me in not admitting the deceased until he had been examined by tho Medical Officer. The statement is totally uutruo that deceased was told by anyoncthatbe would not bo permitted to enter the Hospital as a patient until 'i p.m. on Sunday. After Delaney went iuto tho ward Con- i way sat down for five or ten minutes on the steps, stating that he would wait a little while for Delaney. On my return to tho, surgery I found that Conway was gone, and I did not hear any more of Him until 3 p.m. on Sunday, when I was informed, that Conway died at At Quid's Boarding Houso on Saturday night. Trusting that the Chairman and tho Trustees will accept my explanation, I have the honor to remain, yours etc., '

J. WIILUMS, Custodian. Tho Ecv. Mhoi'McKenna stated thatin his opinion seeing tho instructions which from time to time been given Mr- Williams, tho Custodian was not to blame in the matter. Those who hndconductod thecorrespondenco that appeared in the newspapers bearing upon the subject probably knew very littlo of therea] state-oWhe case, It was yovy easy tq be ifiso after a thing j}adhapponcu\ The fact of tho deceased having come to tho Hospital from Eketahuna nlono was in itself a! strong argument in favour of the (jqstodinn, A man situated liko Mr Williams conld not be expected to tell thataraaninConwny'scondition was dyihg. Tho Chairman (Mr J. C. Soddington), said that the Custodian had sent his report to the Trust, owing to his not having been subpecnaed on thb inquest held on Conway. Had he been able to give evidence, his statement would thus havo been made public. The matter then dropped.