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Violet Elsie Plummer
1906 - Abt 1977

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• Birth	26 Feb 1906	Rosebery, Tasmania, Australia
  Gender	Female
  Died	Abt 1977	Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  Person ID	I54	John Forsyth + Catherine McGrath Tasmania
  Last Modified	21 Mar 2021

  
  

  Father	Charles Frederick Plummer,   b. 11 Aug 1872, Richmond, Tasmania, Australia ,   d. 5 Feb 1952, Glenorchy, Tasmania, Australia
  Relationship	Natural
  Mother	Caroline Mary Forsyth,   b. 9 Oct 1885, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia ,   d. 9 Dec 1962, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  Relationship	Natural
  Married	Abt 1903	Tasmania, Australia
  Family ID	F7	Group Sheet

  
  

• Notes

  The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Thu 15 Jul 1926 Page 5 SINGLE WOMAN'S DEATH EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. The inquest on the body of Sylvia Violet Plummer, who died in the Hobart Public Hospital on Tuesday morning, was opened yesterday by the Coroner (Mr. H. S. 1!. Wright). Evidence of identification was given by Violet Elsie Plummer, re- siding at 03 Giblin-street. New Town, the sister of thc deceased. She said thc de- ceased was 22 years of ase at the time of her death, and unmarried. DctectiveSuperintendent Oakes stated that the young woman was ad- mitted to the Hospita] some days ago in a septic condition. The police had their suspicions as to the cause of deatih, and required time to make an investigation. One of the chief wit- nesses was out of the State. He asked for an adjournment until July 20. I This was granted. The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Wed 21 Jul 1926 Page 5 YOUNG WOMAN'S DEATH RESULT OF ILLEGAL OPERATION. CORONER'S VERDICT. The Coroner (Mr. Harold Wright'), after inquiring yesterday into the death of Sylvia Violet Plummer, single, aged 23, which occurred at the Hobart Public Hos- pital on July 13, returned a verdict that death was due to an illegal operation, but by whom it was performed there was no evidence to show. The inquest was held in the magistrate's room at the police station. Mr. Eric Johnson represented Frederick Herbert Eiszele, who made a statement that he had had relations with the young woman, but knew nothing about the cause of her death. The pro- ceedings were conducted by Chief Detec- tive-Inspector Oakes. Dr. Ratten,l Surgeon-Superintendent of the Hobart Public Hospital, stated that Sylvia Plummer was admitted to the hos- pital on July 8, in a septic condition. The usual treatment was applied, but her condition did not improve. Subsequently, he found that a criminal abortion had been committed, and he reported it to the police. The young woman died on July 13. Detective-Sergt. Fleming stated he in- terviewed the deceased about her condi- tion. That was when she was in the hos- pital. She told him she had been brought to the hospital from a dilapidated two story place in Macquarie-street, but did not know who it was brought her. She also said she had been up at the house for a few days. She had been employed at the Mental Diseases Hospital at New Norfolk, where she said she had a fall on some asphalt and felt very ill afterwards. Jane Bennet Power, matron at the Mental Diseases Hospital, said the de- ceased had been at the institution since April 9, 1924. On Monday, July 5, she left on 14 days leave but she did not mention to witness that she was ill from the result of a fall, or that she intended getting married while away. Ottilie Ohlsen, crtincated nurse, who said she kept a private hospital at 88 Goulburn-street, stated she failed to re- member a girl named Plummer coming to the hospital. She had never seen her. Neither to her knowledge did a man named Eiszele call at the hospital and inquire about the condition of a girl. Her sister often attended to patients, and did not always mention their names. Violet Elsie Plummer, sister of the de- ceased, residing at New Town, said she visited her sister in the hospital on July 9. She said the detectives had been to see her in the morning about her condi- tion, but, having promised to tell them nothing, she had told them she had been to the Ouse in order to put them off the track. She also said: "The dreadful woman almost killed me and then brought me to the hospital." She however, could not remember the woman's name, nor did she see her face properly, because her eyes were affected. Mr. Oakes: You say she said she misled the detective in order to keep her pro- mise?-Yes. Mr. Oakes: Did she say what the pro- mise was?-No. Mr. Oakes: Did she tell her mother about it?-No, she thought she might get better, and did not want to say anything about it. Mr. Oakes: Did the deceased ever tell you about her private affairs, and that she was to become a mother?-No, never. Mr. Oakes: Do you know with whom she was keeping company?-Yes, with Frederick Eiszele. She did not want to get married, because she thought she was wanted to look after the home. She went to Nurse Ollsen's rest home in order to have her eyes attended to. Before she died she asked witness to explain every- thing to her mother. Mr. Oakes: And did you explain?-I had nothing to explain. Frederick Herbert Eiszele, painter, resid- ing at 20 Lille-street, Glebe, said he was 21 years of age. He had been keeping company with the deceased for the past 17 months. She was employed at the Men- tal Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk, and he was engaged at New Town. About five weeks ago he was at New Norfolk for the week-end, and about 8.15 o'clock on the Saturday night he went to the regatta ground with deceased. They returned to the hospital about 10 o'clock. Ho did not think he told Mrs. Plummer he was re- sponsible for her death. The next he heard of her was on July 10, when Mrs Plummer told him her daughter was in the Hobart Hospital, and asked him to go and see her, which he did. He was with her when she died. He did not ask her how she came to get into her condi tion. During the previous four weeks he had met her several times, and she never complained of anything wrong. He did not know Nurse Olsen. Mr.Oakes produced several letters which witness admitted were in his hand writing. "I sent the best remedy I could pos- sibly get," Mr. Oakes read out from one of the letters. To what did that refer he asked? Witness: They were some small pills that I sent her for a backache. She often complained of it. Mr. Oakes: And then there is this in another letter: "Our mix-up cannot be done for £15, but for £25. I have been scouting round, and find that is so.' What does that refer to? Witness: That was to be the cost of our marriage and a holiday. Mr: Oakes: But the "mix-up"- was that your marriage? Witness: Yes. Mr. Oakes: And what do you say to this: "We will talk things over, but I will make arrangements before it comes"? Witness: That refers to the arrange- ment I was to make to get away from work. Mr. Oakes (to the Coroner): I put these letters in as exhibits. Witness, in reply to Mr Johnson, said he had nothing to hide in the letters. He repeatedly urged the girl to marry him, and in the end she promised to do so. CORONER'S VERDICT. Mr. Oakes: That is all the evidence we have to offer you, Mr. Coroner. The Coroner said he had listened to the evidence very carefully. There was no doubt that an abortion was effected, but there was no evidence to show who committed it. Death was due to the per- formancc of an illegal operation.