Coronial file for Ah Foong - Woogaroo Asylum - 1895

The following is a transcript of the Inquest of Death, concerning Ah Foong, at Woogaroo Asylum who died in 1895. It is based on the Microfilm copy held at the Queensland State Archives Item ID 2733147, all statements were handwritten.

The intent with this post is to make primary sources more readily available, hence there is little comment. The only reference in the media of the day I could find to this event was a note in the statistics for the asylum week ending 26 October 1895. “Died on the 21st instant, Ah Foong, Chinese, late of Georgetown, aged 42 years.” Foong was the only patient to have died at the asylum in that week.

I have another post about an Ah Foong, who may or may not be the same person, based on newspaper accounts. When completed I will link it here.

The cover of Coronial File for Ah Foong
Queensland State Archives Item ID 2733147

325/95
"INQUESTS OF DEATH ACT OF 1866.”

CERTIFICATE OF PARTICULARS.-- INQUEST OF DEATH. 

I HEREBY CERTIFY, that on the twenty third day of October 1895, I held an Inquest of Death at Woogaroo Asylum in the Police District of Oxley and that the following particulars were then disclosed :-- 

Name of deceased : Ah Foong - Chinese
Profession or calling : Cook
Height, colour of hair, peculiar clothing, and any other means of identity: [Blank]
Where found and when : Woogaroo Asylum 23 October 1895
Date of death : 21 October 1895
Supposed cause of death : Concussion of the Brain
Persons last seen in company of deceased, and names of suspected persons: [Blank]
Accused : [Blank]
Names, residences, and calling of witnesses:

• Dr Jas R. Nicolls, Woogaroo Asylum
• Simon Kelly, attendant, Woogaroo
• Timothy Taeffe, attendant, Woogaroo
• Tom Moore Smith, attendant, Woogaroo

Suspicious circumstances: [Blank]
[Signed]
Justice.

NOTE.- One Copy of this Certificate to be attached to the Inquest of Death Deposition and forwarded The Honourable the Attorney-General, and a Duplicate to be sent to the Commissioner of Police. See Section 3 of "Inquests of Death Act of 1866" (30 Vic. No. 3). A Copy must also be forwarded, together with the “Certificate of Information,” to the District Registrar of the District within which the Death took place.

[Left side Margin] Under Col. Sec. for perusal please return 26/10/95
[Overwritten] U. Sec. Justice. The accusations in this case were supplied to the Col. Sec by Wm Scholes. 29/10/95

James Robert Nicoll on oath saith :- I am a medical practitioner in Queensland and assistant superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane at Goodna. I knew the deceased patient Ah Foong. He was admitted to the Hospital on May 8, 1895 suffering from Dementia. Physically he was in poor health and never robust while his habits were very dirty. He appeared to be in his usual state when I saw him on the evening of October 21. On the same date between 5.30 and 6 pm I was called to see him and found him in a state of hopeless collapse with symptoms of concussion of the brain. He died very soon after. Next day I made an examination of the body and conclude that the cause of death was Concussion to the Brain.
Taken and sworn before me at Goodna this twenty third day of October AD 1895
[Signed] James R. Nicoll
[Signed] W. Galdwyn [?] 

Timothy Taeffe on oath saith:- I am an attendant at this asylum I knew the deceased patient Ah Foong about five months about half past five on the evening of the 21st Inst. I was preparing for the tea, I thought I heard a row on the verandah of No 2 Ward. I turned around and saw James Bow a patient having the deceased by the waist. The deceased had a piece of bread in his hand I sung out to James Bow to let him go. I then went towards them but James Bow threw deceased on the verandah he fell on the back of his head before I could reach him, he lay unconscious on the verandah. I then reported the occurrence to Attendant Kelly who is charge of the wards. Ah Foong died in my presence 6.5 pm 21 October 1895.
Taken and sworn before me at Goodna this 23 October 1895.
[Signed] Timothy Taeffe
[Signed] W. Galdwyn. [?]

Tom Moore Smith on oath saith :- I am an attendant at this asylum I knew the deceased patient Ah Foong, about four or five months. I was on duty in No 2 Ward about 5pm on the evening of the 21st October last. I was looking towards the bottom fence. Heard some patient say that a chinaman was stealing bread. I looked toward the dining room and saw deceased lying on his back in the doorway his legs being out. I ran across and saw that he looked stunned. I went and got a wet towel and put it on his forehead. The Chief Attendant came into the yards, after which the deceased was carried and put on a bed. I afterwards reported the matter to Dr Nicolls.
Taken and sworn before me at Goodna this 23 October 1895.
[Signed] Tom Moore Smith
[Signed] W. Galdwyn

Simon Kelly on oath saith :- I am an attendant at this asylum I knew the deceased patient Ah Foong, since 8th May last, on the afternoon of the 21st Inst. about 5.30 at tea time I found the patient lying down on the verandah apparently unconscious. I sent for the chief attendant and doctor both arrived shortly after. I put the deceased to bed when I noticed the state he was in.
Taken and sworn before me at Goodna this 23 October 1895.
[Signed] S. Kelly
[Signed] W. Galdwyn [?]