A DEVOTED MOTHER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 169, 22 August 1914, Page 3

A DEVOTED MOTHER.

TRAGEDY OF ADVERSITY. A pathetic story of a devoted mother -who, while braveiy supporting her children after her husband had left her, -was overtaken by misfortune and committed suicide b$ drowning herself in the Thames, was told at a Lambeth in--quest recently on Mrs Alice Shearson, aged 46 years, the wife of a butler, lately of Acacia Road, St. .John's "Wood.

Mrs Clara -Shallard, of Westmoreland Street, Pimlico, said that Mrs ;;Shearson, who was a friend of hers, .separated from her husband some years ::ago, and had since been working to her three children. "She was a cook-housekeeper," continued Mrs Shallard, "and was in her 3ast situation in Acacia Road for three •years. Six weeks ago she lost her situation owing to the family being sold up, ..•and she was not paid her last wages. "Her eldest son, a youth of 19, ■started for Australia a fortnight ago. I had the care of the other two —a boy ■of 14 since he was a fortnight old, and the girl, aged seven and a-half, for live years. She. paid me HO/- a month for tlreir support, but she had been unable to pay anything since she left her -place." George Eric Shearson, the 14-year-old son, said he last saw his mother on .:Sundav, when lie found her waiting for .him outside St. Michael's Church, Chester Square. She was broken-hearted •about his brother having gone to Australia, and, handing him a. brooch, said, ""Keep that, and never part with it." "I walked with her to Hyde Park •corner," said the boy, "and when wo parted she was crying. She said she ■ could not come 'and see Mrs Shallard ibecausc she had no money for her." On Monday morning the boy received itlie following letter from his mother:— "My dear George, —I hope by the time you receive this letter I shall be .vat rest for ever from this sad and lonely ilife.

"Do not let this upset you, clear, but try and work for yourself and your poor little sister Molly, and I trust you will be rewarded some day. If your brother . igets on, and-sends for you both, I .hope .you will go to him, and all be together. "I should have been very happy aiid •contented if I could have been, with .you always, but it could not be. I have done my very best for you all up to aiow, but I feel unable to fight for a iliving any longer. "I have no heart to do anything. I Hiave done many foolish things in my life, but I have also done some good ftnd kind things \for other people.— With love from your broken-hearted mother.'' Tired of Life. , Police evidence showed that Mrs ears on's purse was found on Vaux6all Bridge on Sunday evening. It •contained twopence and a slip of paper, «on<;wl}ich wa,s written:—* 'Tired of thisilonely life. Best to end it." The coroner said it was a very pointful case. "This poor, woman was left by her ihusbaud some years ago and saddled •with the children, to whom she was devotedly attached,'? he stated, "and.she -set to work to bring them up as she wished them brought up. She finally found herself stranded without wages rowing to some financial, crisis in the house, where she was employed. "Then, she had- to say good-bye to <her eldest son, who went to Australia, :and the two calamities preyed on her utiind, and she became brolcen-heartcd. For the past six weeks she had j>rofbablv been wandering about. "I am very sorry for her and her (children, and I do earnestly hope that ;Soine kind-hearted philanthropist will take an interest in the boy and girl, :and give them a start in life. It would be hard on Mrs Shallard to have the-n Jeft on her lir<nds, as hhe has no duty towards tliem except that of friendship, and I do not know what will become of them. • Tli«ir photographs show vhow well they have been cared for by

their devoted mother and Mrs Shal--lard."

The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."

The coroner elicited from Mrs Shalilard that the only money she had to rely on wa/ her husband's wages, and Jhe handed her £1 from the poor-box.