| CORONER'S INQUEST.
The City Coroner (Mr H Sbiell, J. P. ) held an inquest at the Star Hotel, George-street, Redfern, yesterday morning, with reference to the death of Mrs Mary Louisa Bignell, wife of William Bignell, a tailor, residing at No. 28, George-street, Redlern William Bignell, who was arrested on Saturday, on a charge of drunkenness and who waa suffering very much, as if from the effects of drink, was examined , his wife was 35 years of age, a native of Sydney, and he had been married to her 13 years she died at a quarter past 11 o'clock on Friday morning Dr. G. F. Dansey, of Cleveland-street, Redfern, deposed that Bignell called on him on Sunday, 4th instant and said that his wife was very ill, and was dying, witness went to No 23 George-street, Redfern, where he found Mrs. Bignell ill in bed, she was holding a teacup which was fullfill of brandy and water the woman was in a very low state, and was evidently suffering from the effects of frequent drinking, advised the husband to immediately make some very strong beef tea, and then to make his wife drink as much as he could compel her to take, instructed Bignell before administering the beef tea to his wife to put some bread or something of the kind in it and that on no account was he to give her any more spirits for if he continued to do so he would kill her, cautioned him that if he neglected to carry out those instructions his wife would die, and also said that it was no use prescribing for her so long as he (Bignell) persisted in giving her spirits; last Saturday witness made a postmortem examination of the body of the deceased, the lungs were somewhat diseased; the heart was enlarged, fatty, and flabby, the liver, which was of a pale yellowish colour, was three times its normal size, extended from side to side and displaced the stomach downwards the stomach contained a little liquid, but no food the bowels were empty, the membranes of the brain as well as the vessels connected with it were congested; the postmortem appearances showed that deceased is a woman who was addicted to the abuse of alcohol, and that the caused of death was exhaustion consequent on continued intemperance, if, after witness's visit on Sunday, 4th instant, the use of alcoholic stimulants had been discontinued and animal nourishment given to her instead, there would have been a chance of prolonging her life , witness was of opinion that the use of stimulants after he saw her on Sunday, contributed to and accelerated her death Senior-constable George Anderson deposed to going to Bignell's house early on Friday afternoon Mrs Bignell was dead, and a woman whom he saw there said Bignell had gone away under the influence of drink, saw the husband at half-past 2 o'clock, and took him to the house, and told him to remain while he (witness) went for a doctor, witness returned at half-past 3 o'clock, and found that Bignell, who was under the influence of drink, had gone away again , he did not return until about 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, when he was still under the influence of drink, saw Bignell previous to his wife's death, cautioned him about the condition of the house, and told him that he would be responsible for anything; that might occur in it, Bignell ordered witness out of the house, saving at the same time that he could do as he liked in his own house, on Friday last witness examined the house, and noticed, an absence of all nourishment except a little coffee without any milk in a basin, and a very small quantity of brandy in a bottle, saw no meat or preserved meat for making beef-tea in the house, on Saturday night arrested Bignell for being drunk in George-street, Redfern Charles Lovell, of 27, Alderson-street, deposed that he was a bailiff of the Small Debts Court, took possession of Biguell's house, under an execution, at 4 o'clock p m , on Thusday,7th instant, and remained there until 11 o'clock on Friday morning , Mrs Bignell appeared to be ill, and witness saw her husband several times take in spirits and give it to his wife , once he gave her brandy mixed with an egg, but he never gave her any other nourishment, saw Mrs. Bignell take brandy three or four times; about a, nobbler at a time , witness remonstrated with Bignell, who said, " Oh, a little drop wont hurt her ," she was evidently dying when witness left the house, he was glad to run away from it , Bignell was under the influence of drink all the time witness was there, and was not in a fit state to be at large , some beer was brought into the house and Bignell offered it to his wife, she declined to take it, but would have brandy. Mary Henry, residing at No. 30 George street, Redfern, deposed that she knew deceased, who drank to excess , saw Bignell give her brandy several times between Monday and Friday , told him not to give her too much for fear it would kill her, he used to give her sixpennyworth at a time , had known him to give her seven or eight glasses during a day , between last Monday and Friday did not see Bignell give his wife any beef tea or arrowroot, during last week and the week before Mrs. Bignell appeared to have nothing but brandy , witness cooked a fowl for her on Monday, but did not know whether she ate it; some brandy and some beer were brought into the house on Friday shortly before Mrs Bignell died, her husband was at home then Catherine Lynch, at No 48 Turner street, Redfern, deposed that between the hours of 10 and 11 o'clock on Friday morning she obtatued a quart of beer Fix this text and sixpennyworth of brandy at the request of Bignell, and took them into his house, half of the brandy was mixed with an egg, and by Bignell's direction was given to his wife, the remainder of the brandy was given to Mrs. Bignell afterwards, Mr. Bignell went to the bank to change a cheque, and after he returned he went for some more brandy for his wife, who was then almost dead did not see any nourishment given by Bignell to his wife, witness had that morning given some coffee to Mrs. Bignell, and gave her some sago the day before; on Wednesday witness gave deceased some beef tea , Bignell brought the beef with which witness made the beef tea, Friday the only occasion on which witness procured brandy for the deceased; Wednesday was the only occasion on which witness made beef tea for Mrs. Bignell, the cheque which Bignell cashed on Friday was for £4 or £5,and was signed by his wife. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that Mrs. Bignell died from exhaustion resulting from intemperance; that William Bignell had persisted in supplying his wife with alcoholic stimulants contrary to the express orders of Dr. Dansey , that Bignell had failed to supply her with proper nourishment, and that he was guilty of manslaughter William Bignell was accordingly committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter. Bail was refused.
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