Post by NZBC on Jul 18, 2015 16:44:59 GMT 12
INQUEST.
The inquest touching the death of Alice Searle was held yesterday afternoon before the Coroner, Mr A. D. Thompson, S.M. Sergeant Cruickshank conducted the enquiry on behalf of the police. Doris Wong Jack, aged 11 years, said deceased was her mother, and they had come to Palmerston about a month ago. A week ago they went to 26, Main Street, where deceased died. Her mother did not complain of being unwell, and took three meals that day. She seemed happy and cheerful. After tea she went to her bedroom and was reading there for a long time. Deceased then complained of not feeling well. Witness went to see Willie Sing, and on returning saw deceased going white. Sing then went for the doctor. A man stayed by deceased while the other two were absent. ..They were not away more than ten minutes, and deceased was lifeless when they returned. Sing previously asked what was the matter, and witness's mother tried to answer, but could not.
Willie Sing said he had known deceased for about thirteen years. She had lived with Wong Jack in Pahiatua for about 17 or 18 years. Deceased sent to Wong Jack for money to go home with, but it did not arrive, so witness gave her money to go home. Deceased missed the. train and decided to go next day. She got some papers and read all day. Witness went out at 7.30, leaving deceased in the. bedroom. Returning at 10.30 he sang out "Alice!" There was no answer. Witness went into the room but deceased was not able to speak. Went for the doctor then. Deceased was dead on his return. In the morning she had sixpence worth of brandy at breakfast. Witness gave her 10s for the train fares. Deceased ate tea heartily. Did not complain. She used to drink a good deal, but was sober while with witness.
Dr O'Brien, called, said he saw deceased at about 1 a.m., and she had been dead then about two 'hours. She was between 45 and 50 years of age, and was suffering from hernia. Her heart was weak and fatty. Death was due to heart failure following on slight hemorrhage of the brain. There was no trace of drink, and deceased did not seem to be a heavy drinker. Wong Jack, laundryman, Pahiatua, said he had known deceased for fifteen years. She had never been ill before. She drank a good deal at times. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence —that death was due to heart failure following on slight hemorrhage of the brain.
Manawatu Standard, Volume 9190, Issue XLI, 15 April 1910, Page 2
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MS19100415.2.12&srpos=23&e=-------100-MS-1----0wong--