MISSING LADY'S FATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 96, 24 April 1926, Page 23

MISSING LADY'S FATE.

DTTXG BT INCHES. In Yollacombe -Woods, on the Earl of Fortescue's estate, near Barnstaple, a bodybelieved to be that of Miss Ethel M. Stuart was found. Miss Stuart, a descendant of the first Marquis of Bute, disappeared on January 20, after visiting her sister, the. Hon. Mrs. Deiys Scott (danghter-m-law of the Earl -of Eldon), at Appledore. She got into a train at Bldeford to go to Dawlish, and was not seen again. A gamekeeper found the body lying on a mackintosh about 150 yards from the main road. The police identified clothing and jewellery as corfespoidlng with those possessed by Miss Stuart. The inquest was adjourned at Swimbridge. The Coroner remarked! that Miss Stuart had been in the wood dying byinches for at least three weeks. The Coroner said that Mlss_ Stuart was not absolutely insane, but at times she got into such a condition that she was unable to control herself. In 1924 she entered an establishment for mental cases at Exeter, and from there was transferred, to a home at Dawlish. He thought Miss Stuart must have got put at Barnstaple. Search showed indications cf places where she hid been sitting about for some considerable time. He wanted to have evidence, before him as to why this woman, who was known to be of weak intellect, proceeded alone from Barnstaple to Exeter, and why inquiries were not made of the local police at once. Dr. F. L. Thomas, of Barnstaple, gave it as his opinion that Miss Stuart had been dead about three days. The organs wer.e normal, but the body was poorly nourishecE i She must have had some food, as there was i a certain amount of fat about the body.