DEATH IN HOSPITAL.
TEACHER FROM AUCKLAND,
(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) OAMARU, Monday.
Miss Jessie Marguerite Fendall, teacher at Otekaike Special School for Boys, who was found seriously injured at the foot of a 12ft bank on September 18 and died in the Oamaru Hospital this morning, was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Fendall, of 103, Jervois Road, Ponsonby. She was admitted to the Oamaru Hospital suffering from serious head injuries, apparently having fallen down the bank while out walking. Born in Timaru, she came to Auckland with her parents as a small girl, and after being educated at the Auckland Grammar School took up kindergarten work. After being associated with the Campbell kindergarten and the Myers kindergarten for a number of years, she went to the Otekaike Special School about seven years ago. -Auckland Star, 26/9/1933.
DEATHS
FENDALL. — On September 25, in Oamaru Hospital, as result of accident at Otekaike, Jessie Marguerite, third daughter of Harry and Janet Fendall, late Canterbury, now 103 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland. -NZ Herald, 27/9/1933.
SCHOOL TEACHER’S DEATH
THE OTEKAIKE TRAGEDY
INQUEST ON MISS FENDALL’S BODY
(From Our Oamaru Correspondent.) An inquest concerning the death of Miss Jessie Marguerite Fendall, who ,was found unconscious on September 17, on the bed of a creek, surrounded by banks, near Otekaike Special School, and who died at the Oamaru Public Hospital on September 20, was held yesterday before the coroner (Mr W. H. Frith).
Inspector Bird, of Timaru, appeared for the police, Mr H. J. S. Grater for the relatives of the deceased, Mr J. H. Main for the child welfare branch of the Education Department.
Dr David Giroan McMillan (Kurow) stated that he received a telephone call from the manager of the Otekaike Special School at 7 a.m. on Monday, September 18, 1933, asking him to go there, as a member of the staff had been found at the foot of a bank a short time previously, after being missing all night. He proceeded to the school and found Miss Fendall lying on a bed and being attended by Nurse Campbell. Her face and forehead were covered with dry blood, and blood was on her clothes. He assisted in the cleaning of the wounds and he noticed that the skull had been penetrated, as the brain was exposed. There was also another wound on the head, as well as one over the right eye. Nowhere else oh the body was there any bruise. Deceased was later taken to the Oamaru Public Hospital by the ambulance. Several garments were bespattered with blood. There was evidence that the deceased had walked after the accident, as there were signs of vomit in places. On September 4, in company with Constable Moody and Detective Studholme, witness visited the scene of the tragedy. The wall at the foot of which Miss Fendall had been found lying was 12ft high. There was no evidence of deceased having been struck on the bank. Witness considered the injuries to the head could have been caused by the deceased fainting and falling headlong over the cliff to the rocks below. He did not think the blows could have been caused by a hammer, and she could not have fallen as she did unless she fainted. Witness took the photographs produced. In his opinion the cause of death was the head injuries, which could have been caused in several ways. He assumed, on examination of the creek bed, that the injuries had been caused by a fall, provided she was unconscious when she fell. The injuries could also have been caused by a blow on the head. The only instrument found (other than the piece of quartz produced) which could nave made the injuries was an iron standard. There were perforations in the deceased’s hat, and he stated that a blow from a hammer could not have made these.
To Mr Grater: He was definitely of the opinion that the hat was on the head when the blow was received. On learning the height of the bank he assumed that, had a person been at the top of the bank and in danger of falling, he or she would have made some attempt to prevent falling, such as putting out the arms. This assumption he based on the history of the case. He accounted for the absence of any wounds on the body by the assumption that the head had taken the full force of the blow, so taking the momentum from the rest of the body, which would flop on the grass at the edge of the depression. He based his assumption regarding fainting on hearsay evidence. There were blood marks on the stones. In reference to the standard mentioned, he was told it was brought by one of the searchers.
Dr R. S. J. Fitzgerald stated that deceased, who was aged forty-five, was admitted to the Oamaru Public Hospital on September 18, suffering from a compound and comminuted fracture of the skull. One wound exposed the brain. There were no other wounds or abrasions on the body. On September 19 she was still unconscious, and on September 20 she died without recovering consciousness. He carried out a post mortem on the body the same day. There were no external marks of violence, no evidence of generalised meningitis; but he found an excess of fat between the outer lining of the heart and the muscle tissue. In his opinion death was due to severe cranial injuries, hemorrhage, and shock. If deceased was subject to fainting fits the condition of her heart might have been responsible. On September 28 he proceeded to the Special School at Otekaike with Dr Bevan Brown and Sergeant Fearnley. They were met at the school by Detective Studholme and taken to the spot where the body was found. It was suggested by the detective and others that the deceased had had a fainting fit while at the edge of the cliff, this causing the fall. In his opinion it was possible, but not altogether probable, that deceased could pitch far enough forward to reach the rocks where she was found. The injuries were consistent with having been received from a terrific impact. He considered that a person fainting in that position would most likely strike the rocky bank first or roll. As the force was so severe one would have expected to have found marks or bruises on other parts of the body, but none were found. He considered that a fall could have caused the injuries, but he felt that the serious nature of the impact could hardly have been accounted for by deceased falling in a faint over a bank 12ft high.
To Mr Grater: He considered it was possible for deceased to have pitched forward like a person taking a high dive, but to do this would require some impetus to get her from the bank to the point where she was said to have struck. Any person falling in a dead faint came down like a dead weight, resulting in bruises on the shoulders, but there was no evidence of bruises.
To Mr Main: Witness considered when operating that the injuries might have been caused other than by a fall. Two days later deceased’s brother called on him and asked him if there was any possibility of an assault. Witness told Mr Fendall that he had been informed definitely that deceased had fallen over a cliff. Mr Fendall suggested that his sister might have met her death by foul play. Witness considered that there was a possibility that deceased could have been the victim of an assault. If the deceased had been sitting or lying in the creek bed and was assaulted with some weapon one could not expect to find other marks on the body, but if she had been assaulted on the cliff edge there would have been marks on the body.
Dr M. K. Grigor said that she assisted in the post mortem with Drs Fitzgerald and Bevan Brown, and gave corroborative evidence regarding the nature of the injuries. She considered it would have required a severe amount of force to inflict the injuries on deceased’s forehead. She expected to find other marks on the body.
Constable J. B. Kearstou, Christchurch, said that on December 12 at 2.45 a.m. he and Detective Studholme exhumed deceased’s body and took finger prints, which were sent to Wellington to be compared with those on the magazine which was found beside Miss Fendall.
Senior-sergeant Dinnie, of the Criminal Investigation Department at Wellington gave evidence as to receiving the blood-stained magazine produced, and examining it for finger prints. He compared the finger prints with those received from Constable Kearston, and they were identical.
George McDonald, station manager, stated that he resided at Otekaike, about 20 chains from the Special School. On September 17 at 11 p.m. he was informed by members of the staff that Miss Fendall was missing and immediately commenced a search. He returned at 2.30 a.m., and arrangements were made to conduct a further search. Witness found Miss Fendall at 6.30 a.m. lying in a creek bed and in a crouching position, with her bands on her head. She appeared to be unconscious and did not speak. Her face was covered with blood. Witness carried her up the bank, assisted by Alex Taylor, and she was conveyed to the school in a cart. Deceased’s hat, shoes, and overcoat were lying in the bottom of the creek. Witness observed blood on three stones (produced) near the body. Between September 18 and 22 it had rained, and the greater part of the blood was washed off, although there were still traces of it afterwards. There was nothing to indicate a struggle, and there was no other evidence that she had fallen other than where found. There were signs of vomit in places.
To Inspector Bird witness said he considered that the injuries would have been caused by deceased falling from the top of the bank.
William Meikle, manager of the Special School, stated that on the day in question all the pupils were accounted for with the exception of one who was arrested by the police at Papakaio that day. Witness stated that there was no possibility of any of the pupils being near the spot where Miss Fendall was found.
Constable Moody, stationed at Kurow, stated that he had received a telephone ring on the morning in question, and had proceeded to the scene of the tragedy, and taken measurements in regard to the position of the body.
Miss Wylie, head teacher at Special School, Otekaike, stated that she had held the position at the school for thirteen years, and had known deceased since she had commenced duties in 1926. She was not in good health, and on one occasion had fainted at the table. She had often complained of feeling faint, and was often very depressed. Witness had often accompanied deceased when taking walks. On the day in question deceased informed witness at about 1.30 p.m. that she was going for a walk to see how the wind was blowing. She was wearing her tennis shoes, which she only adopted when going a distance. At 6 p.m. witness became uneasy at deceased’s nonappearance and started a search. Witness, knowing the condition of the deceased at the time, considered that walking against the strong north-west wind blowing would have brought on a fainting fit, assuming that she walked against the wind.
Dorothy Steel, first assistant teacher at Otekaike Special School, gave corroborative evidence to that of Miss Wylie.
The Coroner, summing up, said he had given the case a good deal of thought. There had been many rumours current regarding the cause of death, with the result that much hard work had been given the police and himself. Nothing more could have been done to get the truth in this unfortunate occurrence, and no stone had been left unturned to get the result. A case of this type always led to rumours being circulated, but nobody had seen the accident, and he could only assume what happened. Dr Fitzgerald had considered the injuries rather severe for the assumption that deceased fell only 12ft, but one did not always have to consider the distance, but the circumstances of the fall. Dr McMillan’s evidence had been very concise, and there seemed no doubt that the cause of death was accidentally falling. Miss Wylie’s evidence showed that the deceased was subject to fainting fits, and as there was a strong north-west wind blowing on the day of the tragedy the effect of any undue exertion might be to bring on a fainting fit. This, of course, was only assumed, but lie had to take a reasonable view of the case. He accordingly brought in a verdict that deceased fell over a bank and received injuries of such a nature that she subsequently died.
Mr Frith made special reference to the work of the police, and complimented the Police Department on the investigation of the case. -Evening Star, 2/2/1934.
Oamaru Cemetery.
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