THE INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MRS. BUCKLAND.
An inquest was held at the resilience of Mr W. T. Buckland, Grafton road, Auckland, on September 7, on the body of Mrs Buckland. I)r Philsoii was the coroner. The jury having been sworn, proceedad to view the body, after which
the following evidence was taken : Elisabeth Mary Bucklaild deposed: 1 am second daughter of AVilliato Buckland, member of the General Assembly. I reside at this house—on the Grafton road. Deceased waß iny mother. Her age was fifty years. She had been seriously ill for the last nine months. Ido not know what was the nature of ber complaint. She was attended by Dr Hartman, of Parnell. I did not know the nature of her complaint until lately. It was more mental than bodily affliction. bhe was very despondent, which arose from bodily disease —from change of life. I last saw her alive before the occurrence on Sunday evening, in her ordinary state. About half-past nine o'clock yesterday morning, my eldest sister and I went to the bed-room door, and found it locked. We were surprised at this. We called to her through the door, but obtained no reply. We then went round to the window; the blind Was down. The window was not fastened* and we raised it, and I Weut in first. On entering the room I found deceased lying on the bed on hef back apparently dead. Her face was pale, her eyes were closed, her neck Was covered with blood. There was a good deal of blood on the bed The bed clothes were thrown back as far as her chest> Her hands were extended. She had a small pair of nail scissors in one of her hands. (Scissors produced.) The hand was stretched out from the body. The point of the scissors was sharp. They were her own scissors, but were not usually kept in the bed-room. 1 had not noticed them lately. There was no sign of life about her when we entered the room. I spoke to her; she did not answer me. She was not breathing. There was no noise. I did not feel her pulse. I did not notice any gurgling in the throat. I think I was slightly insensible. I immediately sent for Dr Hartman, but he was not at home. I observed a wound on the neck. There was no blood flowing from it when I saw it. My sister returned in about threequarters of an hour. I next sent to the Provincial Hospital* and you yourself (Dr Philson) ssw her about 11 o'clock. Tou stated that she was dead. I had no suspicion that she ever meditated suicide. I always considered her to be of sound mind. Latterly she seemed unconscious when spoken to. We did not allow her to remain alone, as we heard that she might be subject to fainting, and one of the family usually remained with her. She was not in the habit of being taken with faintings.—The verdict of the jury was that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.
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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 867, 28 September 1871, Page 3
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519THE INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MRS. BUCKLAND. Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 867, 28 September 1871, Page 3
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