WOMAN'S DEATH.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19213, 20 January 1928, Page 3

WOMAN'S DEATH.

SUICIDE WHILE DEPRESSED. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, January 19. The inquest into the death by gaspoisoning of Florence McMurtie, in a house in Tasman street on Tuesday, showed a direct relation with the Lyall Bay suicide pact of Harold Wilson and Ivy Walton last Saturday. McMurt.' _was the daughter of a farmer at' Kimbolton, who last saw her four years, ago. Jessie Gladys Pemberton, with whom deceased lived for a year, said that deceased had been- engaged to Wilson, and was to have been married this month. At nine o'clock on Monday night she was in good health, but seemed upset, and told witness she di<] not think she would go to work next day. Following the enquiry from McMurtie's employers, witness went to the house; but found it locked. A neighbour looked through a window, and from what he saw the nolice were summoned. Deceased was found dead in the kitchen, with a gas-tube near her head, and the gas turned on. Witness had no doubt from a note left and addressed to her that Wilson's suicide was the reason for deceased taking her life. •

The Coroner. Mr Hiddell. remarked that Wilson, from what they knew ot him, anneared to have heen a scoundrel. He not only committed suicide himself, hut wrecked- Hie lives of these two women. The verdict was that deceased rlied from gas-noisoning, selfadministered, while suffering from de pression.