SAD DROWNING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 303, 19 December 1912, Page 5

SAD DROWNING CASE.

FATALITY AT BIRKENHEAD. OLD LADY FOUND IN HARBOUR. 3 A sad drowning fatality was reported yesterday afternoon from Birkenhead, the victim being an elderly lady named Mrs. Eliza Hodson. The body was discovered floating off the Birkenhead wharf. As the 3 p-m. ferry boat to } Chelsea was approaching the wharf, Mr. j S. W. Cope, of Birkei—«ad, saw what appeared to be a body in tike water. He 1 at once communicated with Constable MeGilp, and with the aid of a, small boat they secured the body, and lifted it on to the wharf. Drs. Meik— and Millington were summoned, and ma—l an immediate examination, but the unfortunate lady had evidently b<sen dead some time. Her head and face -were badly bruised, but it is thought that this may have been caused by contact 'with the boulders on which the body was awash when found. The body was forthwith removed to the Auckland morgue. Subsequent inquiries elicited the fact that the name of the dec— wad was Mrs. Eliza Hodson, a widow, aged 74, who had been living with her married son, Mt. ■ i W. Hodson, in Telephone Road, Birken- , head. From what can be gathered, it i appears that on the previous day Mrs. , Hodson went on a visit to Auckland to . transact some business in connection , with the old-age pension, and as Mrs. Hodson was very active for her age, no anxiety was felt by her relations until after a reasonable hour had elapsed ; when Mr. Hodson began to make inquiries, but without avail, until a telegraph ; messenger notified Mr. Hodson that a body of a woman had been found at Birkenhead. Mrs. Hodson, jun., at once went down to the scene and identified the deceased as her mofcher-lin-law. Mr. Hodson states that his mother was of a bright and cheerful disposition, and that he could only surmise that in getting off the steamer at Birkenhead in the dark she missed her way, -nd walked over the side of the wharf. This would be accounted for to some extent by the fact that the deceased was rather shortsighted. Mts. Hodson originally came from Napier, and had been staying with her son for some time.