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The identification of the sitter as Christina of Denmark is based on facial similarities to other firmly identified portraits (for example the celebrated portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger in the National Gallery, London). Christina was born in February 1522, the youngest surviving child of Christian II of Denmark and Isabella of Austria (see RCIN 405782). In 1533 she married Francecso Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan (d.1535) and in 1541 she married Francis, Duke of Lorraine. The sitter’s dress is lined with fur and its dark colour indicates her status as a widow.
Anthonis Mor was working in England in 1554 and may have painted the portrait there. At that time, Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy was also in England, and it had been proposed that he should marry the widowed Duchess of Milan and Lorraine. The marriage negotiations never came to fruition, but they may explain the commissioning of this portrait and the eventual painting of it with a portrait of Christina’s unsuccessful suitor.
One of my favorite rockets just bit the dust. The final moment was a fiery ballistic swan dive back to Earth.
It was a wonderful hybrid of three Estes rocket kits: the Oracle for the video camera nose cone, a modified Blue Ninja (built to take E motors), and the red booster stage from a CC Express.
So, in total, I took a video camera rocket designed for a D motor, and jerry-rigged it to take a D booster that then ignites an E second stage. This lets it fly much higher, while capturing video the whole way. I'll post some thumbnails from her prior flights below, with paths to the video.
This time, however, the main E stage burned brightly but provided no thrust. So it slowly arced over... with a torch burning out of the back. After gathering the debris, I discovered that the failure was in the detachment of the ceramic nozzle from the E motor. Details in the notes above.
With two unusual single-use motor failures recently, I suspect temperature cycling may be the common culprit. I will now store them like a fine wine.
Triple Tragedy – People Poisoned – Mother & Two Daughters
PUKEKOHE, This day.
A tragedy occurred yesterday afternoon at Yates Farm, Waiau, Karaka, 14 miles from Pukekohe. The victims were Mrs. Blackwell and her two daughters, Marjorie, aged 13, and Muriel, aged 12. It is alleged that death was due to strychnine poisoning. The husband and father, Mr. H. Blackwell, who is employed as a farm ploughman, was at Papakura with a mob of sheep.
The victims and a six-year-old boy, Gordon Blackwell, had lunch. The boy ate blanc mange, but the victims ate apricots. Later they became violently ill. The boy, becoming alarmed at the condition of his mother and sisters, went to the nearest telephone and summoned Dr. Page, of Papakura, who upon arrival found the mother and one daughter dead. The other daughter was in convulsions and subsequently died. The police hurried to the scene last night, and found the house spic and span. There were not dirty dishes about. The mother was on a couch and the two girls were side by side in bed, fully clothed. There was no evidence of a struggle. Dectectives took charge to-day. The bodies were conveyed to Auckland for a postmortem examination and inquest.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19270907.2.71
FAMILY WIPED OUT
Doctor's Tragic Discovery In Farm Cottage
MOTHER'S GRIM THREAT
“Mummy and Marjorie and Muriel – all gone. Fall down dead, like Jacky and me playing soldiers.
Even as death, grim and leering, peered form the window of the small Karaka weather-board at the sturdy little figure running so manfully across the grass through the drizzling rain, a kindly deity must surely have looked down with a smile of infinite pity and tenderness upon the stumbling, panting child in his losing race with tragedy.
It was this journey of half a mile over the ruts and hollows, and the effect of strenuous exertion upon the childish physique of little Gordon Blackwell, which undoubtedly saved his life, whilst his mother and sisters writhed and twisted in the death throes of deadly poison.
Tightly clenched in one grimy little fist was a scrap of paper upon which was written the last despairing call for help from one of the three victims of the shocking tragedy which occurred last week on a Karaka farm, about nine miles from Papakura.
The boy was violently ill as soon as he reached his destination.
“Please ring for Dr. Page.”
This is all the note contained. It was handed to Frederick Yates, manager of Yates and Company's seed farm, for whom Gordon's father, Herbert John Blackwell, worked.
It was written in a childish, shaky hand, and though little Gordon himself says that his mother gave him the note to take to Yates, there is a strong feeling that it was his eldest sister, Marjorie Doreen, who penned the tragic appeal before her death.
Not comprehending just why Dr. Page was wanted, and his own telephone being out of order, Yates went to the house of a neighbor named Lindsay and sent the message from there.
Meanwhile he sent Gordon home again with a note to his mother asking her why Dr. Page was wanted.
Unknowingly, he was sending the boy back to the small cottage in which death had already entered to claim two victims – Gordon's mother, Mary Minnie Blackwell, and his youngest sister, Muriel Mercia – while another sister lay in the darkening shadows on the borderland of eternity.
Gordon's father was away from home and had left the farm at 7 a.m. On the morning of the tragedy (Tuesday) for Papakura with a flock of sheep.
He had arisen early that morning and after taking his wife a cup of tea, as was his custom, he then milked the cows, his daughter, Marjorie, helping him, before leaving for the township.
Thus it was that the boy, Gordon, was alone in the tidy little cottage, playing his childish games by the bodies of his mother and sister, not realizing the tragedy that had come with such deadly swiftness.
And so it was that Dr. J. B. Page, of Papakura found him when he entered the house at 3 o'clock.
Gordon had delivered that fateful last message about 12.45, but owing to trouble on the muddy road, Dr. Page had been unable to reach the farm earlier.
In the kitchen of the cottage of death he found Gordon playing beside the body of his mother on a couch, whilst the two girls, Marjorie and Muriel, were in the bedroom – the former still alive, but in violent convulsions, and the latter dead.
Marjorie died shortly afterwards.
Everything in the cottage pointed to the fact that there had been no disturbance of the household routine.
There were no breakfast dishes, the cottage was neat and tidy in every respect and the bodies of Mrs Blackwell and the two girls were fully clothed.
It appears that food eaten for lunch included apricots and Blanc mange, but none of the victims seemed to have eaten very much of it.
From what could be gleaned, the two girls, who had been to the mail-box, near the Te Hiki school, for any family correspondence returned about mid-day.
There was no sign of a disturbance in the home and the bodies of the three victims revealled to evidence of a struggle.
It was evidently just after the return of the girls that the mother and daughters and the small son, Gordon, commenced what was to be the last meal for all but the boy.
It was the violent sickness he had suffered on reaching Yates' house which doubtless saved his life.
Then again, possibly the boy alone did not receive so much of the poison as the others.
It was not until he was on his way at 5 p.m. That Hebert Blackwell, the father learned of the tragedy.
He met Dr. Page returning to Papakura and heard the terrible news.
Dr. Page had meanwhile informed Constable Hammond, of Papakura, who, in turn, communicated with Sergeant G. T. Cowan of Pukekohe.
Constables Allen and O'Donnell remained in the ill-fated cottage all night with the grief-stricken father until the arrival of Senior-Detective Hammond and Detectives J. Bickerdike and F. Sinclair from Auckland the following morning.
The police gleaned from the husband that the poison in question was kept on the farm for the purpose of poisoning rabbits.
Further, that about a year ago according to Yates, Mrs. Blackwell had – unknown to him – taken some of the poison from his place.
Later she returned it, saying that she had mixed it with the food, but afterwards “come to her senses.”
There had been threats in the past – and quite recently – by the dead woman to “do away with the family.”
His wife had complained of a pain in her back last Monday, Blackwell stated, and that evening he had rubbed her back for her.
This pain had been very severe for some weeks past and it was during this period that his wife had threatened to “do away with the family.”
“Seaview,” the little cottage in which the Blackwell family had lived for three years, was by no means isolated, as there was a neighbor on each side and about half a mile away in either direction.
Though she visited the city and the Papakura township infrequently, Mrs. Blackwell was in Auckland as recently as last Thursday, and it was not an unusual thing for her to walk to Papakura when visiting there.
The two girls were aged respectively 14 and 11 years, while Gordon is 6? years old.
Their mother, who was born in New Zealand, was married in 1912, her maiden name being Volant.
An inquest was opened before Magistrate Hunt and formally adjourned, a post-mortem examation of the bodies being ordered.
“Mummy and Marjorie and Muriel – all gone. Fall down dead, little Jacky and me playing soldiers,” asserted little Gordon on the day following the tragedy, when he was induced to leave his childish game with “Jacky” for a few moments.
In the face of the sturdy little chap there was a slightly puzzled, worried expression, but as yet the grey eyes held no tears.
Gordon just didn't comprehend the real import of the tragedy that had come into his life.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTR19270915.2.25
Images:
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19270908.2.16.11
Plot 14b: Marjorie Doreen Blackwell (14) 6/9/1927 – Strychnine poisoning
Mary Minnie Blackwell (36) 6/9/1927 – Mrs – Strychnine poisoning
Muriel Mercia Blackwell (11) 6/9/1927 – Schoolgirl – Strychnine poisoning
unmarked grave
Suicide contacts listed in NZ Herald 31 July 2017
If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.
Or if you need to talk to someone else:
• LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633
• NEED TO TALK? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7)
• KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757
Carte de visite by Bates & Cottrell of Waukesha, Wis. The body of a young child, holding a small bouque of flowers, lay upon a sofa suitably draped for the occasion.
This image may not be reproduced by any means without permission.
Quill: Federkiel, textil. Weberspule, Schreibfeder, Rohrpfeife, Zahnstocher,
mus. Plektrum, tech. Schwungfeder, zool. Stachel [Stachelschwein, Igel]
Ongoing photographic project started 16.8.2011. Part of the set "postmortem".
DMC-G2 - P1210380 28.11.2011
This is the back of the post mortem tintype of a baby.
There is a 2 cent tax stamp on the back. During the Civil War these stamps were used to raise money for the war effort. Two cent stamps were applied to photographs costing less than 25¢. The tax on photographs was passed in 1864 and repealed in 1865. This hand wirtten date on the stamp is hard to read but appears to be 1865.
Peter Bohlin Architect
About a week after the death of Steve Jobs, I sat down for an interview with Peter Bohlin, Architect of Apple's spectacular glass-walled retail stores. The subject of our interview was a new house designed by Bohlin in the Connecticut woods, but of course I could not help but ask about Jobs. "Steve helped me in these years to drive even harder," Bohlin told me, speaking of Jobs's relentless push for excellence. I had noticed in one of the countless postmortem articles a listing of Jobs's patents, and this included the glass circular stair of the Apple stores. Had Jobs actually designed that? Bohlin just smiled. "What do you think?"
Click here to read the rest of the story:
At Home at the Edge of the World: Observatory: Design Observer.
observatory.designobserver.com/feature/at-home-at-the-edg...
We would love to hear from you on what you think about this post. We sincerely appreciate all your comments.
If you like this post please share it with friends. And feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss ideas for your next project!
Sincerely,
Frank Cunha III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
FC3 ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN, LLC
P.O. Box 335, Hamburg, NJ 07419
e-mail: fcunha@fc3arch.com
mobile: 201.681.3551
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Licensed in CT, DE, FL, NJ, NY, PA.
She is wearing one of the dark wigs often seen on older women and is probably wearing at hair mourning brooch.
Can any of the old script decipherers out there help me with her maiden name? McCaulken? McGrusken? I'm stumped....
Update: it is McCracken. I just found her in the records. Thank you for your help!
Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) is shown in white mourning — en deuil blanc — to mark the loss of three members of her immediate family within a period of eighteen months. Her father-in-law Henri II of France died in July 1559 as a result of a jousting accident. Next was her French mother, Mary of Guise, who died in Scotland in June 1560. Finally, in December of the same year, her husband François II died. Mary returned from France to her native Scotland in August 1561 and it is probable that this painting was painted some time between July 1559 and that date. There is a reference to a portrait of this type as early as August 1560, when Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, the English ambassador, remarking on Mary’s intention of sending a portrait to her cousin Elizabeth I, quotes her as saying ‘I perceive you like me better when I look sadly than when I look merrily, for it is told me that you desired to have me pictured when I wore the deuil’. On her return to Scotland Mary asserted her claim to the English throne as the granddaughter of Henry VIII’s sister Margaret Tudor. The resulting conflict led to her eventual imprisonment and execution by Elizabeth I.
There are various versions of this portrait, for which a red and black chalk study survives in Paris (Bibliothèque Nationale). It was evidently highly regarded by Mary’s grandson Charles I as he hung it in his Cabinet Room at Whitehall Palace, where Clouet’s miniature portrait of Mary was also kept. Mary was famed for her beauty and complexion, which was described during her return journey to Scotland: ‘the whiteness of her face rivaled the whiteness of her veils, and in this contest artifice was the loser, the veils paling before the snows of her skin.’
nephew an first son-in law of Augustus
for educational purpose only
please do not use without permission
The main floral arrangement is in the shape of a sheaf of wheat and a scythe. Job 5:26: "You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season."
I may note...you may notice the date of 1910 on the babies pillow....
In Europe as other parts of the world ...cabinet photos continued on to nearly
the 1920s.
However in the USA...with the advent of Eastmans brownie camera....
The cabinet photo didn't really survive into the 20th century.
a handful were done up to 1903 in America
Here's an interesting anatomy lab/dissection photo. I'm not sure what that first name is in the caption. Note how the students are not wearing gloves! This is exactly how infections were spread in teaching hospitals. Found Ohio.
The sudden death on Thursday night of a married woman named Rebecca Greigg aged 34, who resided at King-street, Arch hill, has been reported to the coroner (Mr. T. Gresham). As Dr Keith, who was called in, declined to give a certificate of the cause of death, an inquest will be held at the Star Hotel, Karangahape Road, to-day.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19050715.2.18
THE ARCHHILL FATALITY.
INQUEST UPON THE BODY.
SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE.
CHARGES OP NEGLECT.
A VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER.
The circumstances of the death of Mrs. Rebecca Grigg, at her residence, King-street, Archhill, on Thursday last, as revealed at the inquest upon the body at the Star Hotel, Karangahape Road, on Saturday, were of a sensational character. The evidence showed that the deceased, when she was visited that day by Mrs. Prudence Weaver and Dr. Keith, was very much emaciated. Dr. Keith said that had medical aid been rendered a fortnight prior to the woman's death there would have been every possibility of her life being prolonged; in fact, her life might have been saved. Death, he said, was due to an abscess. In coming to this verdict, the jury, in accordance with the summing up of the coroner (Mr. T. Gresham), also found that such death was accelerated by the wilful neglect of the husband, Francis George Grigg, who was then arrested upon a charge of manslaughter.
Sergeant Hendry represented the police at the inquest.
Dr. Keith said that shortly before half-past three on the afternoon of the 13th inst., he was called to attend the deceased at her residence, King-street, Archhill. On arriving he found the woman lying upon a bed in a dying condition. He was not then in a position to certify as to the cause of death, as there was nothing in the external condition of the deceased on which to arrive at any opinion. By direction of the coroner he had conducted a postmortem examination that day. He had found that the body, which was extremely emaciated, was in a fearful state of filth and neglect. Lice were crawling all over the head, face, neck, and hands, while the lower limbs were perfectly filthy. This state of things must have existed for three weeks, and could certainly have been prevented by any person in attendance upon her. On opening the chest he found the left lung consolidated at the base. The apex and upper half of it were broken down from an abscess formation. The stomach was empty. The right lung was also consolidated at the base. This condition of things had certainly only developed within a fortnight or three weeks, and he was sure that had medical aid been rendered a fortnight ago there was every probability that the life of the deceased would have been prolonged; in fact, it might possibly have been saved. "In all my experience,'' added the doctor, "this is as bad a case of neglect as I have ever witnessed."
Asked to state the Cause of death, the doctor said that it was abscess on the lung.
In conclusion, Dr. Keith said that he considered that the house in which the deceased died should be destroyed, the surroundings being in a very insanitary condition, and the building itself dilapidated.
Francis George Grigg, bottle gatherer, husband of the deceased, said that she was 34 years of age when, she died. He had been residing with, her in King-street for about 12 months past, and until Wednesday last he had never heard her complain about feeling unwell. While he was asleep upon that occasion his wife woke him tip and complained about her heart and chest. At her request he gave her some brandy, which he always kept in the house. With regard to the condition in which the body was found by Dr. Keith, all he had to say was that he left such matters to his wife. His wife prepared the dinner as usual on Wednesday. Prior to that she had not been off the premises for nine days. Up till Thursday last he was not aware of any persons who had seen his wife for a month previous.
Questioned by the foreman of the jury, Grigg said that his earnings amounted to between 30s to 35s per month. Out of this he had to pay a rent of 5s per week.
In reply to another juryman witness said that during the past 14 days he,had gone for the meat and bread. The latter he got from Skinner's, the store close by.
Prudence Weaver, a widow, said that she resided in Cobden-street, Newton. She had known the deceased for two or three years past. The deceased and her husband had been residing in King-street for the past 12 months. Prior to Thursday morning she had not seen the unfortunate woman for several months. She knew Grigg, to whom she spoke on Monday, the 10th inst On inquiring after his wife he replied that she was not very well. He did not convey to her the impression that she was any worse than usual. He asked her to come round and see her. At about nine o'clock on Thursday morning Grigg came to her house and requested that she should go round an see the deceased, as she was so bad. She understood that he had called for a similar purpose on Wednesday evening. On that occasion, however, she was out.
Continuing, Mrs. Weaver said that she accompanied Grigg to the house, where she found the deceased lying upon a bed in the kitchen. Her hands, and feet were stone cold, and the woman, who was dazed, could not speak. On observing this she inquired from Grigg whether she (the deceased) had had any medical advice? He replied, “No.” At that she said: “Then go away and get it at once or she may die under your hands.” From the condition in which she found the deceased she could scarcely think it possible that she had prepared the dinner at mid-day on Wednesday. She was positive that she could not have done so. She remained with her until death took place, which would be at about ten p.m. on Thursday. Directly she told Grigg to get a doctor he went for Dr. Bakewell. As the latter did not arrive by half-past two p.m. Grigg went away for another doctor, returning with Dr. Keith.
To Sergeant Hendry: She saw nothing in the shape of food upon the premises, excepting some bread and some uncooked sago.
To Grigg: She did not see any jelly. She understood that the deceased asked for some stout, which Grigg went and got. When they put it to her lips the woman could not drink.
To Sergeant Hendry: There was nothing to have prevented Grigg, knowing that his wife was sick, from cleaning the house, he did nothing to keep his wife clean she considered that someone should have been called in to do so.
Constable McGilp said that he had known the deceased for five mouths past. He last saw her about three or four weeks ago. She was then walking along Great North Road. Although she was then in a very tottering condition she was not in a worse state than usual. After a diligent search he could find nothing on the premises in the shape of food. When he assisted Dr. Keith that morning to remove the body from one stretcher to another, he found the woman hair was almost alive with lice. This filthy condition of things, in his opinion, had existed for months past.
This was all the evidence.
The Coroner (Mr. Gresham) in summing up pointed out that under the Criminal Code Act, 1893, anyone who had charge of another person, who was unable to provide himself or herself with the necessaries of life, through sickness or any other cause was bound to do so, and was criminally liable for omitting (without lawful excuse) to perform that duty if the death of such a person was brought about or life endangered in consequence.
After half-an-hour's retirement the jury returned with a verdict, “That the cause of death was abscess of the lung, and that such death was accelerated by the wilful neglect of Francis George Grigg, the husband of deceased.” The jury also attached the following rider: "That the jury are of opinion that the attention of the public health officer should be drawn to the filthy and insanitary condition of the house.”
Grigg was then arrested upon a charge of manslaughter. He will be brought before the Court this morning.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19050717.2.37
POLICE COURT NEWS.
SEQUEL TO THE ARCHHILL INQUEST.
GRIGG REMANDED IN CUSTODY.
In accordance with the verdict brought in by the jury at the inquest held on the body of Mrs. Rebecca Grigg, of Archhill, on Saturday, the deceased's husband, Francis George Grigg, a bottle collector, was charged at the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., with having committed manslaughter by wilful neglect.
Sub-Inspector Black asked for a remand until Monday next.
The accused, when asked if he had any objections, said he would like to have the case gone on with as soon as possible.
The remand was granted.
The Magistrate (to the accused): Do you wish for bail?
Accused: I have no means for bail.
The accused was not represented by counsel.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19050718.2.105
A WIFE'S CHEERLESS DEATH.
HUSBAND CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER.
A sequel to the death of Mrs. Rebecca Grigg, who died in cheerless surroundings in her house in King-street. Archhill, a few weeks ago, occurred in the Auckland Magistrate's Court this morning, when her husband, a rag and bottle collector, a middle-aged, short, thickset man, was charged with manslaughter.
The husband was arrested on July 15 in consequence of the verdict of the coroner's jury, who found that the deceased Rebecca Grigg came to her death from abscess of the lungs, and that the death was accelerated by wilful neglect on the part of the husband, Francis George Grigg."
The charge against the husband was that on or about July 13 he did commit manslaughter by killing Rebecca Grigg." Mr. S. Mays (for the Crown Prosecutor) conducted the case for the Crown, and Mr. Skelton (of Devore and Martin) defended the accused.
Prudence Weaver, a widow, of Cobden-street, Newton, said she had known Grigg and his wife for the last two years. Mrs. Grigg was always in delicate health. On the morning of her death the deceased's husband asked her to go and assist his wife in her work, and act as companion to her, as she was very poorly, and was lonely during his absence. She went back with him and found the deceased lying down, wearing ,an old jacket, and covered otherwise with a rug and some small coats. Her hands and feet were stone cold. Witness told her husband to fetch a doctor at once, and he went to do so. An hour and a-quarter later he returned and said he had got Dr. Bakewell, who would arrive soon. Deceased could not speak, but uttered a sound which seemed like "stout," and at witness' request the husband fetched some stout. They put it to the woman's lips, but she could not drink it. Dr. Bakewell never came. After waiting some hours she sent the husband for another doctor, and Dr. Keith arrived at about half-past two o'clock. He prescribed for the deceased, who took one dose of the medicine. She died the same night at about ten o'clock.
Mr. Mays: From your experience of sickness and death, do you think it possible that the deceased could have been up and cooked the dinner the day before?
No, she couldn't have done so. She looked to me to be half dead.
Did you see any blankets there?— No, There were no blankets or sheets, only the one rug, which was on the bed, and the coats.
Just before her death, did the accused make any request to you about her hair?— Yes. He asked me to cut it, but I refused.
Was there any food in the house? — Yes, just one piece of bread and a little rice or barley. Did the accused make any reference as to the inquest that was to follow? — Yes. He asked me what I thought would be done, and I said, "You have got yourself into this muddle, and you must get yourself out of it."
What was his demeanour at the inquest?—He seemed troubled and very anxious. I think you saw the prisoner on the Monday before his wife's death, July 10?— Yes.
What did he say about her? —He asked where a Mrs. Johnston lived, and said his wife was very poorly, and he wanted Mrs. Johnston's little girl to come and be company for her while he was out.
What was the state of the deceased's body?—lt was in a very dirty state.
To Mr. Skelton: You say she was always delicate?— Yes.
What was her trouble? —I could not say. She seemed in a decline. Her husband did not ill-treat her. She always spoke too well of him for that. In fact, I think he was too lenient, and gave her too much her own way.
In what way?— She was too self-willed, and would not take his advice. I put it down to her ailment. I think he would give her anything she asked for.
Do you know anything of their circumstances? —They were very poor.
Was the husband industrious? —He always seemed to be working. He told me on the Monday that he had bought the horse and cart, thinking that when she got better he would be able to take her out for a drive.
Did Dr. Keith say anything about warmth?—No, but when her husband asked the doctor his fee, he remarked, "You are not very well circumstanced. Never mind about the fee."
Did he order a fire?— There was already a fire burning, which her husband had made.
Did her husband go for an ambulance?
—Yes, at Dr. Keith's request. But Mr. Strathern refused to let him have it unless he brought a written order from the doctor. But at that time Dr. Keith had gone.
Sergt. Hendry said he arrested the accused on July 15 on a warrant of the coroner (Mr. Gresham). On the way to the lock-up he said: "I am sorry the jury brought in that verdict. I did not neglect her. I did what I could for the poor girl. I did not know she was that bad." He saw the deceased's body, which was in an absolutely filthy condition. Lice were running about the face and neck. He did not see the rest of the body, but he saw quite enough.
To Mr. Skelton: Deceased had been twice or three times arrested for drunkenness at Newton, and he believed on one or more occasions in the city. Otherwise he knew of nothing against her. When he had seen her previously, she appeared clean.
Dr. Keith said he was called in to the deceased at about 3.30 on July 13, and found her dying.
What was done? —I tried to get her to say something in answer to my questions, but failed to get any answer. I noticed that her right hand was hanging over the side of the bed, and very much swollen and cold. She was powerless to raise it. She did say a few words in a weak, pining voice.
Were they incoherent? —I heard them distinctly enough. They were: "Oh, you — —" and then the voice died away. She repeated the words a second time in the same way. He arranged for the husband to have her taken to the hospital, as he could see that she would not survive. Witness held the postmortem examination by direction of the coroner, and found that the upper part of a lung had been completely broken down by an abscess. The body was emaciated and dirty, the hair unkempt and full of lice. In his opinion she could not have been up and cooking on the day before her death. The stomach contained about a tablespoonful of milky food.
Mr. Mays: If she had been properly treated and medically attended, her life would certainly have been prolonged, and might possibly have been saved. You have practised in the slums of London, haven't you?—Yes.
Have you ever seen a worse case than this?—I have seen as bad cases but never worse. Mr. Skelton: I think I shall object to that your Worship. I think It is scarcely relevant to the case.
His Worship scarcely agreed with the objection, but had it recorded on the depositions. How long beforehand do you think a doctor should have been called? At I least a week.
To Mr. Skelton: Deceased might possibly have suffered from asthma for many years past, and the symptoms might have been mistaken for those of abscess. If brandy and milk had been given by the husband, it was reasonable to suppose this treatment had at some time been recommended by a doctor.
To His Worship: If deceased had been washed with or without her consent, and properly fed and clothed, that would have prolonged her life even without medical treatment. The asthma and abscess would, however, cause a certain amount of emaciation in spite of nourishing food.
Thomas Gresham (City Coroner) testified to the accuracy of a record (produced) of evidence given by the accused at the inquest.
In this evidence, read to the Court, the accused said his earnings amounted to about 35/ a month.
Mr Gresham also testified to the verdict returned by the jury.
Elizabeth Skinner, wife of Robert Skinner, storekeeper, said she lived close to the Grigg's house in King-street. Her husband was the lessee of the house the Grigg's occupied. The prisoner told her of his wife's ill health, and mentioned that some time previously she had gone under an operation. Witness offered to come and do anything for her, but prisoner said he thought he could do all that was required. He said a doctor had attended her. On the day after the death prisoner told her what had happened, and said that the doctor's visit flurried her, and, he believed, hastened her death. He also said that he wanted to get a doctor sooner, but she objected, and when his wife heard that the doctor ordered her to be taken to the hospital she said, "Frank, if you take me there I'll never get over it; I'll never live. Witness had not seen the deceased for three months past.
Mr Mays: Where did you think she was all that time? —There was a report in the neighbourhood that she had gone away, and I thought the same as the rest.
To Mr Skelton: Mrs Grigg was a very reserved person. Witness had never called at her house. Mr Grigg appeared a respectable man, and always spoke kindly and sympathetically of his wife.
Constable McGilp, of Surrey Hills, said when the deceased was lying dead, her hair, which was naturally dark, was rendered grey with vermin. He found in the house small quantities of tea, sugar, milk, butter, and cornflour.
Mr Mays: How long do you conclude that the woman had been bedridden? — At least a week, judging from the state of her lungs and the dirtiness of her body.
Did you have any conversation with the accused?—l asked him on the day he reported the death why he did not send for a doctor sooner, and he replied that he did not think his wife was so bad.
To Mr Skelton: He formed the impression that these people had been in better circumstances, but had come down in life.
This concluded the evidence.
Accused said he wished to give evidence on oath, and call witnesses.
Mr Skelton intimated that he proposed to submit evidence to explain the facts stated by the doctor and other matters; so that the Court should be able, if it thought fit, to save the country from the expense of trial in the Supreme Court if there were no likelihood of a conviction. Mr Skelton added that he would not deny the woman's unkempt condition, but the accused would say he had endeavoured to cut her hair, but she had refused to allow him. His Worship doubted if the evidence indicated by Mr Skelton would be other than evidence which ought to be weighed by a jury. (Proceeding.)
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19050731.2.7
The grand jury in the Supreme Court yesterday threw out the bill against Francis George Grigg, the Archhill bone and bottle collector, charged with the manslaughter of his wife by neglect. He was, therefore, brought before Mr. Justice Edwards and formally discharged.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19050808.2.40
Plot 83: Rebecca Grigg (34) 13/7/1905 – Abscessed lungs (Ang.)
Rows 11-16 in Anglican Division F are what can also be known as ‘Potters Fields’, they were used to bury some of the people whose families were unable to afford funeral costs, institutionalised unidentified at the time of burial or had no-one to bury them. These plots were common graves with some having up to three individuals interred in each, as they were not purchased, permanent grave markers were not permitted to be erected.
Rows 12-16 are now protected by native bush and it is now no longer known where either rows or individual plots are located in this area.
An abandoned and derelict mortuary at St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK.
It was built in the 1940s and closed in April 2009.
One of the autopsy rooms.
Please contact me to arrange the use of any of my images. They are copyright, all rights reserved.
"A. Sonrel, Photographer, 46 School Street,Boston."
This woman appears to be wearing a light, uncorseted day dress. My suspicion is that this woman is pregnant enough to be uncorseted and near to exiting the mourning period, as her dress appears to have a stripe pattern.
At church today (Yes, mrwaterslide went to church), the assistant pastor mentioned mother's who had lost children in the prayer. (We also prayed for bad mother's, a whole other subject that gets lost on this day of motherly veneration). Of course, my mother lost a child, and for her, as for many mothers, this day will certainly be tinged with sadness. So I post up this photo as a tribute to all mothers. Beyond the daily stress and strain, there is sometimes a terrible price that some mothers must pay.
Of course, that this child is the one who was deceased is not certain. The card well could be a memorial to the mother, or it could even more terribly be a memorial to both, swept away in some unknown calamity.
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