RICK WOMAN STARVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1922, Page 19

RICK WOMAN STARVES.

SIN TEARS IN A DARKENED HOUSE. Although she possessed property worth £73,000, Mrs. Margaret Easton, an octogenarian, of Brooklyn, a suburb of New York, died from starvation recently alone In a bouse from which she bad not stirred for six years. Her husband died In 1915, and on that day Mrs. Easton drew the blinds and, having discharged the servants, locked the doors and refused to allow anyone to enter the house. Food was delivered through a email grating at the back door. Children wbo ventured to peep beneath tbe blinds used to see the figure of an elderly woman dressed ln a costume of the sixties sitting rocking herself to and fro. More than a week ago tbe owner of a neighbouring grocer's shop, who called occasionally to supply her with food, was told to go away when be went for an order. A few days later, realising that she had had no food for more than a week, he sent his wife to inquire if anything was wrong. Mrs. Easton told ber that she was under tbe doctor, "bat I'm not taking his medicine," she added, again refusing food. The grocer then communicated with tbe police, who through the window saw the recluse sitting in her chair apparently asleep. As she did not respond to the knocking on the door, they forced an entrance and found her dead. Searching the house they found bank books relating to deposits of considerable amounts and a deed box containing securities, together with Jewellery and cash, to the value of £12,000. So far as can be discovered Mrs. Easton had neither friends nor relatives.