"SHOCKING STORY"

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 19

"SHOCKING STORY"

WOMAN'S SUICIDE. LIVED IN POVERTY. COMMENT BY CORONER. (Special.—By Air Mall.) LONDON, September 3. "This is a perfectly shocking story, and the least said about it the better," said the coroner at an inquest at Cambcrwell, S.E., on Mrs. Lilian Groom, aged 40. Mrs. Groom, who lived at Grosvenor Park, Camberwell, died from poisoning. He recorded a verdict that the woman committed suicide while the balance of her mind was disturbed by prolonged domestic worry. Robert Groom, of Quaker Place, Shoreditch, E., said his wife left him two years ago, taking with her their son and two daughters. The coroner (Mr. A. Douglas Cowburn ): Have you contributed to their support?— No. Why not?: Because I have never received any letter or authority asking me to support them. The coroner: It is your duty to support them without talking nonsense about authority. The eon, Frederick Robert Groom, a butcher's assistant, said he helped to support his mother, who had worked as a charwoman since he was born. P.C. Quantrell, the coroner's officer, said the two daughters had been taken away from the mother owing to the condition of the home and had been sent to a private home by the L.C.C. The woman and her son lived in two rooms. There was no floor covering. In one room there were two chaira and a couch, on .which the son slept. In the kitchen there was only a small cupboard and a bed, on which the mother slept. Neither the bed nor the couch had any sheets. Twelve pawn tickets wen found, one for the boy's suit. The home was "obviously povertystricken."

across the road. His master, disregarding personal danger, flung hi-nself across the road, caught his pet by the collar, and threw him out of havm'3 way, receiving in his own shoulders the impact of the cab. Then a voice cried out and a charming face was framed in the taxi window. Seeing what had occurred, its owner hurried out and assisted two stout policemen in their first aid. Bennett, lying somewhat dazed for a moment or two, returned to consciousness to find his head supported on a «oft lap, and dainty jewelled hands bathing his brow with eau-de-cologne. He decided that in view of the attention he was receiving, his duty was to relapse into a further stage of semi-conseiou.s- - After a few more minutes he groaned feebly, opened his eyes and struggled to his feet. "Don't," said the ministering angel. "Don't! You mustn't get up!" She pressed him gently back again. "I'm all right." 'Tin so sorry," said the ministering angel. "What? Sorry I'm all right?" ''So, no. I'm 'awfully upset." "Surely, it's I who was upset." "But it was. so —so —l don't know what to say." Bennett rose to his feet again, felt himself carefully all over, and de. : led that 'there were no bones broken, a decision presently corroborated by the police surgeon. "I hope you don't think I'm in need of your alternative services," 6aid Bennett to the surgeon. "What does he mean?" whispered Miss Somerset. The surgeon smiled. "He means to intimate that he was not drunk." A low cry of protest and confusion. "Oh, but please, please! It was my fault, entirely. It was my taxi that ran him down." "Xo, it wasn't." "It was." , "It was not your fault. It was my wretched little mongrel." At that moment the wretched little monjrrc] strolled in airily, with his tail up. followed by two soberly-dressed professional gentlemen, who nodded a mutual good morning. "Hullo," said Bennett, "is that you Parkin? I'm afraid you'll have* to excuse me for a bit. I've been trying to knock a taxi down." The elder of the legal gentlemen bowed to Miss Somerset. "Good morning. I got your message. This is my friend Parkin, who is representing Mr.—Mr.—" "Bennett," said Parkin. Jack's owner stared. Miss Somerset stared just as hard. "Are you—" "I am. And are you —" She nodded. "Dear, dear!" said Bennett. "This is most unfortunate. And just as we wer? getting on so well." Pretty Miss Somerset blushed. "Wo can't with it. Not after—" "Of course, we can't. Here's my dog —Come here. Jack. Would you like to thrash him?" As if to add point to the offer, Jack jumped up and licked Mice Somerset's hand. She caught him up and held him to her face, which he also licked in his comprehensive way. "What a darling!" cried Miss Somerset. "Is that darling your dog, air?" inquired Clatworthy, the other legal gentleman. "Because if he is I was just about to make an application to hare him destroyed." Miss Somerset turned upon him furiously. "How can you talk like that?" Tarkin interposed. "I think," he remarked, "that there is another darling in the case. I don't see him here. But I believe him to be a Pekingese. I was about to apply for an order for his destruction." "What do you mean?" said Bennett angrily. "I love Pekingese." "On" your instructions. Mr. Bennett." "Nothing of the sort!" Clatworthy looked at Parkin and Parkin looked at Clatworthy. "It seems to be a case of a settlement," said tho older man. Bennett's grey eyes looked Into the blue eyes of Miss Somerset. "I think we might settle," he aaid. THE END.