Coronial file for Charlie, an aboriginal - Goodna Hospital for the Insane - 1900

The following is a transcript of the Inquest of Death, concerning Charlie, an aboriginal, at Woogaroo Asylum who died in 1900. It is based on the Microfilm copy held at the Queensland State Archives Item ID 2735482, all statements were handwritten.

The intent with this post is to make primary sources more readily available, hence there is little comment. However I will comment that this inquest is one of three related to death by tuberculosis in a short space of time.

258/00

"INQUESTS OF DEATH ACT OF 1866.”

CERTIFICATE OF PARTICULARS.-- INQUEST OF DEATH. 

I HEREBY CERTIFY, that on the twenty first day of June 1900, 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 : Charlie (Aboriginal)

Profession or calling : None

Height, colour of hair, peculiar clothing, and any other means of identity: [Blank]

Where found and when : Woogaroo Asylum 21st June 1900

Date of death : 21 June 1900

Supposed cause of death : Tuberculosis of the intestines, Dropsy

Persons last seen in company of deceased, and names of suspected persons: [Blank]

Accused : [Blank]

Names, residences, and calling of witnesses:

Dr K. E. Shaw, Woogaroo Asylum

G. Locke, attendant, Woogaroo

Suspicious circumstances: [Blank]

[Signed] W. Galdwyn M.

Coroner or 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. 

Robert English Kane on oath saith :-  I am Assistant Medical Superintendent to the hospital for Insane at Goodna. I knew the deceased Charlie (aboriginal) who was admitted into the Hospital for the Insane at Goodna on the 3rd May 1899 attended him during his illness up to the time of his death which took place on the morning of the 21st June 1900. I immediately viewed his dead body before removal from the Male Hospital Ward No VI. 

He Cause of Death which was ascertained by postmortem examination was Tuberculosis of the intestines followed by Dropsy

[Signed] R. E. Kane L. R. ??? 

Taken and sworn before me this 21st day of June 1900 at Goodna

[signed] W. Galdwyn Me 

George Lock on oath saith :-  I am an attendant at this Asylum. I knew the deceased patient Charlie since the second of the present month on which date he was received into the Hospital from No. 1 Ward and put to bed. He took his foods fairly well but did not seem to improve. When I came on duty this morning he appeared in a sinking condition. He died in my presence at 8.30 am 21 June 1900.

The body was viewed after death by Dr. Kane.

[Signed] G Locke

Taken and sworn before me this 21st day of June 1900 at Goodna

[Signed] W. Galdwyn Me 

Calling a Royal Commission - Woogaroo Asylum - 1877

The following is a transcript of the Letters Patent calling for a Royal Commission into the management of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum and other Lunatic Reception Houses of the Colony of Queensland, in 1877, as found at the Queensland State Archives, Item ID 2765073.

This is part of a series publishing primary source documents relating to Woogaroo from 1865 to 1901.

[On left side margin]
Entered on Record by me in the Register of Patents, No 5, page 87 , this 13th day of January, A.D. 1877.
[Signed] H. H. Massie
(For the Colonial Secretary and Registrar.)

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the
Faith, &c., &c. 

To the Honorable EYLES IRWIN CAULFEILD BROWNE;  the Honorable JOHN MULLEN; WILLIAM  GRAHAM, Esquire; WILLIAM HENRY GROOM, Esquire; WILLIAM GILL BAILEY Esquire; WILLIAM LEWORTHY GOOD DREW, Esquire; and JOSEPH BANCROFT, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine;  

GREETING :  

WHEREAS an Address was lately presented by the Legislative Assembly of our Colony of Queensland to the Governor of our said Colony, praying that His Excellency would be pleased to cause a Royal Commission to issue to inquire into the management of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum and the Lunatic Reception Houses of our said Colony: And whereas the Governor of our said Colony, with the advice of our Executive Council thereof, has thought fit to give effect to the said Address and to issue a Commission in our name, and to appoint you the said EYLES IRWIN CAULFIELD BROWNE, JOHN MULLEN. WILLIAM GRAHAM, WILLIAM HENRY GROOM, WILLIAM GILL BAILEY, WILLIAM LEWORTHY GOOD DREW, and JOSEPH BANCROFT, to be our Commissioners for the purposes hereinafter set forth: Now know ye, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in your judgment, discretion, zeal, industry, and integrity, do, by these presents, appoint you the said Ertes IRWIN CAULFEILD BROWNE, JOHN MULLEN, WILLIAM GRAHAM, WILLIAM HENRY GROOM, WILLIAM GILL BAILEY, WILLIAM LEWORTHY GOOD DREW. and JOSEPH BANCROFT, to be our Commissioners to inquire into the management of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum and the Lunatic Reception Houses in our said Colony of Queensland, and to report upon the best means to be adopted, by Legislative enactment or otherwise, to improve the said institutions; and generally to inquire into and report upon the whole subject of the care, custody, and treatment of insane persons within our said Colony. And we do by these presents appoint and direct that FRIDAY, the twenty-sixth day of January, A.D. 1877, at three o'clock in the afternoon, shall be the time, and the office of our Colonial Secretary in Brisbane the place, at which you shall hold your first meeting, and that you shall at such meeting elect your own Chairman. And we do by these presents give and grant to you or any three of you, at any meeting or meetings, full power and authority to call before you such persons as you shall judge necessary, by whom you may be better informed of the truth in the premises. And we further empower you or any three of you to adjourn such inquiry from time to time and from place to place as you may find expedient or necessary. And we do further command and enjoin you that you do take down the examination of the several witnesses that may appear before you, and reduce the same into writing; and such evidence, together with full, true, and faithful report upon the several matters above referred to as you and each of you shall think fit, transmit to the office of our Colonial Secretary of our said Colony on or before the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.  

In testimony whereof we have caused this our Commission to be sealed with the Seal of our said Colony.  

Witness our trusty and well-beloved WILLIAM WELLINGTON CAIRNS, Esquire,
Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Queensland and its Dependencies, at Government House, Brisbane, this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, and in the fortieth year of our reign.  

By His Excellency's Command,  

[Signed] R. M. Stewart
[Signed] W. W. Cairns

Establishing an Inquiry - Woogaroo Asylum - 1869

Below is a Transcript of the Letters Patent establishing a Royal Commission into the Practices at Woogaroo Asylum in 1869, as found at the Queensland State Archives, Item ID 2926490.

This is part of a series publishing primary source documents relating to Woogaroo from 1865 to 1901.

There is a mark in front of Governor Blackall’s signature which I can’t interpret and would be glad to hear from a reader if you can decipher it for me.

Detail from Queensland State Archives Item ID 2926490
showing the mark in front of Governor Blackall's signature.

Register of Patents pages 388 - 389

[In left side margin] Entered on the Record by me in Register of Patents No 2 Pages 388 & 389. This Eleventh day of February AD 1869. Robt Gray. For Colonial Secretary and Registrar. 

Victoria by the Grace of God of the
Kingdom of Great Britain
And Ireland Queen Defender
Of the faith and so forth.

To Patrick Macarthur Police Magistrate at Ipswich in our colony of Queensland
And Albert Maxwell Hutchinson Sub Collector of Customs at Ipswich in our said Colony Esquires.

Greeting:-
Know you that we in full confidence of your ability prudence and fidelity have appointed you and each of you and by these Presents give you full power and authority in accordance with letters of Instruction furnished you herewith in that behalf to make a diligent full and minute enquiry into the truth or otherwise of certain allegations and charges made in various letters which have recently been published by Henry Kilner, John Brosnan, William H. Collard and others reflecting seriously upon the management of our Lunatic Asylum at Woogaroo in our said Colony and the treatment and care bestowed upon the patients in that Institution, and for that purpose WE Command you and each of you that on such days you shall appoint for that purpose (and of which appointment you shall from time to time give reasonable notice to the several parties concerned therein) you proceed to such Lunatic Asylum and then and there examine the several witnesses who shall appear before you separately and apart from each other, and WE further command and enjoin you (if necessary) to adjourn such enquiry and investigation to such time or times as to you and each of you shall seem expedient, giving notice to the several parties aforesaid, and WE do further Command and enjoin you that you take down the examination of the several Witnesses and reduce the same into writing, and when you shall have so taken down and concluded the said enquiry and investigation, that you make a full and faithful report upon the several matters above referred to, as to you and each of you shall seen just from the testimony of the several witnesses examined before you, and such report together with all the evidence adduced you shall transmit to the Office of our Colonial Secretary of our said Colony with all convenient speed.  

In witness whereof Our Trusty and Well beloved Samuel Wesley Blackall Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief of our Colony of Queensland and its Dependencies hath caused this Instrument to be sealed with the seal of Our said Colony at Government House, Brisbane this Eleventh day of February in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand eight-Hundred and Sixty nine and the Thirty second year of Our Reign. 

[?] Sam. W. Blackall
Gov’r
By His Excellency's Command
Arthur Hodgson

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 [?]