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اره نگ
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
I had received from Dr. Grant that burning swa really the primary caus of the death. The Sisters told me that Dr. Blanc who was in the Hospital had also seencher, and had giving her a quarter of a grain of morphine to ease her pain, knowing that it was a hopeless case That relieved her agony Dr. Reid who happened to be there at about 5 o'clock was asked to see her, just when she was dying, 1 have since spoken to Dr. Blano and Dr. Reid for their kindness in attending her and they corroborated what the Sisters said as to what was done for the deceased. I gave the certificate of death, one copy for the Registrar and one for the sexton. I spoke to Mr. Nazer at the Hospital and said I would like to have a look at the room. I went there the following morning and saw the room pretty nearly in the state described. I found the glass of medicine I had left for her was in her wardrobe, and she had not touched it. I have known her to be in the habit of locking the door when she was dressing, to prevent the boy rushing in. I remember I have had to wait on one or two occasions for a few minutes when she was dressing. She was very fond of wearing light materials, and I often told her to wear thicker clothing and have less fire in the room.
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By Mr. Ellis-I have attended Mrs. Bram field for about six months, in fact since her return to Shanghai. As I said in my evidence I believe Mrs. Brumfield knew the reason her husband went out of an evening, which was as I have explained. The splint on her hand kept the wrist stiff, but allowed her fingers to be free, and would not have prevented her opening the window or tearing her clothing off, I think that when dressing her clothing caught fire and that she then sat on the bed, perhaps with the intention of covering herself up with the clothes, but that, losing her presence of mind, she rushed about and set fire to the table-cloth and the curtains hanging by the window which she opened, and get on to the verandah. Then the flames suffocated her and she sank down.
She said, "If I had only got to this
would have kill
She said
husband
er going very hard to get me so tightly by at was injured)," that in getting at her. There it Then she said that home I asked her if anywhere else, and she ng she stumbled against nok her face against the soft woodShe told me her her on to the sofa and to prevent her running after Then she made mention that her at the time home to Club held me by the waist and he down the stairs with him, but would not go," she said. After told me that she got back home by Tetold her she made a great mistake going to any of those houses. This woman is also a patient of mine whom I had attended some time before Mr. and Mrs. Brumfield had |
patients. Shy was then suffering from cold and bronchitis and I wanted to pacify Mrs. Brumfield by telling her that he had possibly gone there to see how she was. Mrs. Brumfield then said, "I love Willie so dearly, and he has beenoh a good husband to me that I cannot bear to think he has ever gone near other woman. She said he was very good her before, but went out at nights some- times now, I think she knew in a way what was the reason of Mr. Brumfield going out, and she also understood there was a certain amount of reason for his doing so. (Witness explained what he meant by this.) She also mentioned about her having gone to some people and having complained about his doing 80. She asked me to advise her, as she had not many friends in Shanghai. She mentioned the names of one or two people she wanted to go to, and I told her that New Year's Day was hardly the time to go to other people with one's own troubles: She said it was unfortunate it was New Year's Day, as she was expecting some children and some ladies who were coming over.” She said she would take my advice and -not go to anyone else just then. All this time I was examining her wrist and attending to her. - I examined the parts very carefully, but the accounts she had given me as to how the accident had taken place I very easily found out that it was merely a sprain caused in the Mr. William Brumfield said-On New Year's way she had described. There were no external Eve we dined at my sister's, Mrs. Scott's. bruises at all and I told her saw no mark After dinner an altercation arose between my on the face. She said she knew there was wife and myself and although we played cards nothing wrong with the face, and it was the nearly all the evening we neither of us spoke wrist which had been painful. She moved her to one another. We left there about half-past wrist and fingers about. I said if she would twelve. We stopped. at a friend's on the way let me put on a small splint she would be all home, but my wife would not come inside. right quicker, by giving perfect rest. (Witness After a little while I joined her, and saw her showed that the splint when applied simply safely to the door of Club Chambers. I com- stiffened the wrist, and left the fingers free.) menced to walk away as soon as I paid the I advised her to keep her hand somewhat 'ricsha men, and as I was going away she said elevated, and used an ordinary silk antimacassar to me, "You had better give me the key." I to put her arm in a sling. She said she felt then intended to go to a friend's house fortable with the splint, but if the pain came close by, and, looking up the staircase what should she do, and I said out of my seeing it was dark, I came to the conclu- ency bag. I would give her something to sion that he was not in. I then got into the pain if it came back. I promised to a 'ricsha and went to 53, Kiangse Road. again in the evening, and said I would The mistress of the house let me in and bly take the splint off in three or four a girl came out of the parlour. We went When I was dressing her wrist the upstairs and sat on her couch. In a little while
window was open at the time and I
a boy came and said something to us, but we to close it as she might catch cold, could not understand him. Just as the boy
did. I took the boy down with me
was going away my wife came in by the door arriage, and gave him a
a small dose behind us. We both junped up off the couch. дер athe purified tincture of opium-The girl that was sitting by me on the couch for him to give Mrs. Brumfield. Before I rushed to the door in the opposite direction. dido I her that if the pain was not My wife rushed after her. I caught her by the bad she need only take half the dose, hand, and held her back. She said, "If you very bad the whole dose. I put the don't let me go I'll scream," and commenced to and she was to add the water. scream at the same time, finding I would not let some time between half-past her go. She struggled from me and fell down telling my servant I would be
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By the Coroner I do not know whether it was her custom to take the key out of the door when she locked it, but I believe the boy had another key.
By the Jury-I believe the letter I have put She was in was written by Mrs. Brumfield. not, however, very ill when I saw her, but she seemed upset. When I left it was about ten o'clock.
A
exasperated
The
me
been
other girl do not know home or not? Sh went towards the and went out of the the back staircase.
door and about, tent
her
would
said
or a quarter of an hour I came back to see wife had gone home. I was remained there and did not awak mid-day the next day, I think my boy brought me a chit. The my name on it, and was directed handwriting, but the letter insid written by my mother to her sayi be up to dinner and would she My boy went away and I sent after a carriage. He came back could not get one. Shortly after came again and he said would I come my wife wanted me. I said to him. come immediately. I called him back and asked him if he had $2 to got a carriage. He
"Yes," and he went off and got one. as the brougham arrived I went down and got into it. I drove up the Bund and I saw a large crowd standing outside of Club Cham- I got out of the brongham and saw bers. Mr. McLeish, of Mactavish and Lehmann, wall hurriedly past. I ran up to him and asked him what was the matter. He said Rün up quickly; something's wrong. I ran upstairs and saw the place filled with smoke. My door was wide open and three men leaning over my wife, who I could see had been badly bur They were attending to her and putting oil over her. I afterwards learned that one was Doctor Grant. They wrapped a number of blankets round her and took her to the ambu lance and another gentleman and I followed. with the brougham. She was taken upstairs at the Hospital and placed on the bed, where she shortly afterwards died.
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1J
By the Coroner-In struggling from me she rushed towards the door, and I fancy I must have hurt her wrist then.
Mr. William Brumfield was re-called on the
7th.
By the Coroner —
In you evidence yesterday you stated that on returning from the dinner you saw Mrs. Brum- field safely to the door of Club Chambers and as she was going she said to you, You had " Did you give it to better give me the key.' her Yes. The door had been locked by us as we went out. There was also a key in the possession of the boy.
When you want to 53, Kiangse Road, you say that after your wife came you went down the back staircase and you were absent 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour; can you state a house opposite. where you were ?—I went into a The last time I was in my own room was about half-past five on the afternoon of the 31st, The last time I had any communication with my servants was about that time. §
By Mr. Ellis-
When did you first know of the fact that your wife had hurt her wrist ?The first intir I got was by my boy when he came down to in the morning the second time. When Mi Brumfield left 53, Kiangse Road, it must have been between 2 and 3 in the- I did not go home that so late, and I though after the row it wou greater disturbance, and I thoug home in the morning things
down a little, and I would have been o pacify her.
What do you think was the
lock Brumfield always great eacon i
And six When I return near the door. I picked her up and, after building and
people calling residents opening Brumfield was in gowns partly
alth
that it w
選
that for
was
speaking to her quietly, she sat down on the te (produced) which was couch with me. I said to her, “You shouldn't I went straight to have come down here," and I further said, Eme "With on I got up to the ward" Come along, come home with
sumfield was dead. I that I put my arm round her waist and came BAW exactly ths along quite quietly I walked to the top of the come along portion of the back staircase. She would have com
nd I was per with me had we not met two girls coming alon
information the verandah. She turned round and called at which Mrs Brumfield an
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