THE HAINING-STREET CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5049, 12 June 1895, Page 2

THE HAINING-STREET CASE.

1 CORONSR'S INQUEST. s ! An enquiry was commenced at 1 tho Hospital yesterday morning, before Mr Ashcrof t, Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr A, D. Smith was foreman, concerning the death gf tho fc young woman Louie Smith, who 1 died in the institution from burns j on Monday morning. 1 Dr. Ewart,medical superintendent ' of the Wellington Hospital, said the young woman was quite conscious up to a few minutes before she died ' at 1 a,m, on Monday. About a quarter of an hour before that sHk fell out of bod while tho nurso vm _ attending to anothor patient. Mr Martin, S.M., camo upon Sunday evening to lake her evidenco, but witness would not tell her she was dying, as he thought there was sonio hope, and if ho told her it might have done away with any chance. Mr Martin agreed to come noxt morning. The woman told witueit she was addicted to opium- ' eating and alcohol. Her death was due to shockarising from tho burns, Margarita Cora Rattigan deposed that deceased told her that when sho , received her injuries there wero i several people in the house. There I was a lighted kerosene lamp stand- • ing on tho mantelpiece. Sho was sitting on a chair near the mantelpiece and a man who was among those present took up the lamp in ■ his hand, the glass fell off and immediately afterwards the laittfc . fell out of his hand on to her bacfP , It burst and set fire to her clothing, . She said it was a pure accident. She refused to tell witness the name of the man or any of the other persons » present. Deceased was 23 years of age. At this slago, the inquest was adjourned to the Mount Cook Police Station, and Joseph and Andrew Kennedy and Joseph J owitt, tho men in custody in connection with the affair, were present during the remainder of the enquiry. The jury visited the house in Haining-street, whero the affair occurred. Sergeant Shirley, re-called, said that deceased told.him that someone threw the lamp, and it struck the wall and set her on fire. They wore lighting. l Gee Chung, a Chinese gardener, ' (whose evidence was interpreted by Frederick Ah Homo), said a woman • named Louie Smith, was living' with him, at his house in. Haining Street. She , had been living with him for two and came up from Dunedin wlSpi him, four or fivo weeks ago. OiF Thursday night last two men named Jam Lee and Robert Wilson, himsolf and the deceased were together in the front loom. A lighted kerosene lamp was upon the table, whiob. was right in front of the street door. Shortly after eleven o'clock a loud knock was heard, and the girl went. n ■ to open tho door. Seeing a crowd outside she shut it again. The doorwas then forced open by tho mob, and four mon rushed in. Tho prisoner, Joseph Kennedy came in first, Andrew Kennedy next, Gawn and » ~ Jewittjfollowing. The men kicked ■' up a disturbance, the deceased girl '' ■ trying to stop tho fight, Witness said "Go outside," and then AndrewKennedy rushed at him, and wanted to hit him, Witness went and stood' in the passage doorway, and the girl ' stood m front, facing bim, with her buck to tho front door, Witness saw Andrew Kennedy take hold of the lamp aud throw it at the girl. He • went when he saw the lamp thrown but he heard the woman call hi m by his name, and lie went back and pfe,. 1 she was on fire. All the men were\R ' the room. He took the girl in next v door and sent for a doctor. .<'--': The enquiry was then adjourned : until Monday nexfc.-.fa Zealand • {Timet,' ;;.,•;