A STRANGE CASE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 769, 22 May 1877, Page 2

A STRANGE CASE.

The evidence adduced at the'in.queston thevservant.girl at JVErs G F Reids', and who diM'it is alleged, ft"oin,j[ll-asage;and neglect, ha&caused a< sensation. Dec,eased/ a servant girl, aged 17, was visited, by- ; Br Bachelor on Wednesday morning lasfc. , He found her ih a very pe- 1 culiar state, very much emaciated, and she) had a-^number of scratches and bruises upon her. He saw her again thesame 1 evening^ and she' died soori after "his last visit. 'The doctor thought himaelf justified in. not giving a certificate as to the. cause of death. ■

Mr Mclntyre, father of deceased, in his evidence, said : I was sent for to see her about eleven o'clock on Wednesday night. She was then quite unconscious, and was- moaning. She was lying on a inattrass, on the floor, and was quite cold. There was apparently not sufficient covering on. She died 'about twelve o'clock, never' having Spoken since I saw her. Tkere were three marks on her forehead, two of them being ■open cuts. ... The arms were also scratched and bruised, and so were her legs. These did not appear to have been recently done. Her hair was much thinner than when I last saw her.. She was like a skeleton,: being extremely thin. There was no fireplace in her room, and her hands and feet appeared to. be swelling Up with cold. I.. ; did not see any signs of diarrhoea about. The windows in the room were out, but had been papered lip. Before my daughter went to Mrs Reid's she was in good health. My daughter had not been home ' since going to work for Mrs Reid. 1 gather from Mrs Reid's daughter that she wished to go home, but was not permittee!. Besides braises on • the forehead, there was a cut on the upper part d'f the nose.

Ann Mclntyre deposed : Deceased" was my daughter. On Wednesday morning I received a letter from Mrs Reid, asking my to come and' see my daughter ' immediately. When I got there I found my daugh- ; ter lying on a -mattress without sheets —just like a beast. She was lying oh a bare raaJbtrass, but .had over her a blue blanket and g| p^chr work quilt. She had but onetpillpvy to raise her head. She had on two dresses, and a very dirty chemise. I took off the dresses aiid found the chemise purged with whitiiess she was lying in a deplorable state, and never spoke again. ■ Her face was bruised as though marked with weapons. Mrs Reid • said she had been tumbling- about the room during the night, Her legs and feet were scratched down to the toes. Her back was blue and marked. I did not notice these until after she was dead, not having turned her over until after her death; Her chest was discoloured also. She was as thin as any skeleton could be. Before going to Mrs Reid's she was a stout, healthy girl, and was not subject to .fits. I heard from another daughter that my girl ' was looking well a month after going to Mrs Reid's employ. When I .got to Mrs Reid's house I was met by Mrs' .Reid, who was crying. She took ms to my girl, and when 1 found -that she was lying like a brute beast; I could do nothing. I said', "Do you think I could come and see my daughter lying like a beast ?" Mrs Reid said, " Dont speak to me like that," and tore my bonnet from ms. Evidence was also given to show that the girl was of cleanly habits, and that Mrs Reid' .first offered £500 and subsequently £2000, not to have the matter divulged..

Mrs Reid is widow of Mr G. F. Reid, late nferchant m- Dunedin, who committed suicide a couple of years ago. •

The iuquest was adjourned to iuesday.

Mr Stout and Mr Gillies are' watching the investigation -on behalf of Mrs Reid,- and. will., seejc to establish that the girl died from diarrhsea. • . .-. ■

The University Council', to-day sold the present building- to the Colonial Bank for £27.000.