“Oh Mary, I’m so cold”

The ward maid, Emma Costello, gave testimony to the accused’s cruelty and heartlessness to Louey, the deceased.  Under questioning by the prosecutor, Mr. Poland, she described how the accused had left Louey in a cold bath on the morning of the 5th July after having dragged and kicked the patient down the hall to the bathroom.  At about a quarter past ten, Miss Costello described finding Louey alone, cold and shivering in the bath which had only sufficient water to cover Louey’s legs and hips.  Louey was trying to get out of the bath but couldn’t, she had no strength.  “Oh Mary, I’m so cold”, she moaned said Miss Costello on inquiring where Louey’s nurse was.  The nurse was nowhere to be seen.  The picture of the accused was set for all to see: she was cruel and heartless.

Miss Costello was a maid on St. Mary’s ward.  The Sister in charge of the ward was known as “Sister Mary”, and the nurses and maids were known as “Mary”.  Their identities were subsumed into the functioning of the ward.  Similarly, the patients were known by the number of their bed.  Louey was in bed number two, hence she was referred to as “No. 2”.  The ward setting was rather impersonal and business-like. Continue reading →