DROWNING FATALITY IN HAGLEY PARK.
A WOMAN FOUND DROWNED IN A POOL. Soon after nine o'clock yesterday morning tAvoboys, Avho were crossing Hagley Park to school" EdAA-ard Dobson and Gordon Harper, found the body of an elderly Avomnn lying in a pool near Victoria Lake,. They reported the matter to tha police at once, and Mounted Constable. Scully immediately Avent to the place. The body avus discovered to be that of Mrs Catherine Kennell, who had been 1 .ported missing on the previous evening. The bonnet, cloak, boots, and parasol of the deceased Avere found alongside the pool. The body, on Avhich there Aye re no marks of violence, was taken to the Gladstone Hotel.
Mrs Kennell, who Avas a a. ido-v, had been living for about fiA-e months Avith her daughter, Mrs Mary Ann Osborne, Avho is also a AvidoAv. For some time lately she had been in low spirits, and had been medically attended by Dr. Clayton, avlio saAv her after dinner on Tuesday, and gave her some medicine. At about 3 p.m. on Tuesday Mrs Kennell said that she Avould go out, for a Avalk, and calling upon her next door neighbour, Mrs Sh»ppard, told her also that she Avas going for a Avalk, and left a bunch of keys with her. She then started out in tlie direction of "Victoria street, and so far as is knoAvii Avas not seen again alive.
At 6 p.m. on Tuesday Mrs Osborne, becoming uneasy as to her mother's whereabouts, made inquiries, and reported the matter to the police. Searcli was made by Mr. Osborne and Constable Koster in the streets along which deceased Avas accustomed to walk, but without success. "Further search was made during the night. The body found yesterday morning in the Park was immediately recognised as that of the missing womas.
Deceased was an old age pensioner, and had been in the Jubilee Home for some time previous to going to liA-e with her daughter. She was sixty-eight years of age.
THE INQUEST. The inquest was held at bhe Gladstone Hotel yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bishop, coroner.
Mary Ann Osborne, daughter ol the deceased, deposed that her mother had not been mentally AA.ak, or subject to fits of depression, but the loss of her husband in December last had preyed upon her mind. Deceased Avas an active Avoman, did not drink at all, and had sufficient means of subsistence. Her life was uninsured.
Gordon Harper stated that he was going to school at 9.20 yesterday morning, and saw decease. lying in a pod! on the 'east side . Victoria Lake, in front of the trees. The pool wa_s about 100 yards off the track, and he had gone to it to see if ie Avas hard enough to skate on. Witness called out to some other boys, and his cries attracted tho notice of Mrs Osborne, Avho Avas near the .pot. Tho latter came to see .he body, a.nd recognised it as that of her mother. Witness then informed the police.
Mounted Constable Scully stated that he found the body lying face upwards, in about nine inches of Avater. The. pool Avas frozen, but the face wa-s above the ice. Deceased's boots, bonnet, cloak, and parasol were lying on the bank.
Dr. William Clayton deposed that as the result of a post-mortem examination he had found no evidence of bruises 6h the body. All the indications Avere those of death by drouning. He could not say lioav long deceased bad been in the Avater. '
The jury returned a verdict that death was due to droAvning, there being no evidence to show how deceased came into tlie water.
DROWNING FATALITY IN HAGLEY PARK.
Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11014, 11 July 1901, Page 3
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