WOMAN’S DEATH AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22359, 24 March 1938, Page 9

WOMAN’S DEATH AT AUCKLAND

BODY FOUND NEAR

WATERFRONT

POLICE CONGRATULATED

BY CORONER

I VERDICT OF SUICIDE

(7&159 ASSOCIATION TSLIORAU.)

AUCKLAND. March 23.

The police were congratulated on their exhaustive inquiries into the death of Mrs Helena Owens, a widow, aged 48, a charwoman, of Kingsland, who was found dead beside the waterfront road on January 21, when the inquest was held before Mr F. K. Hunt, Coroner. When the inquest opened, Mr C. J. Tunks was given permission to appear on behalf of the vestry and vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church, Kingsland. He said that they were particularly interested in the case. “I have had a letter from the vicar making all sorts of allegations against the police; but he did not turn up when the inquest was opened, remarked the Coroner. “This clergyman talks about a verdict being but no verdict was returned.” ■ “I said nothing about that,’ said the vicar, the Rev. Thomas Southworth. A milk roundsman, Cedric Andrews, sai<i he noticed the body about 5.30 a.m. Witness drove to Kohimarama, and advised «4he police there. He did not touch the body. Alfred William Cross said he was cycling to the city when he saw the body. He, too, sent a message to the police. There was a glass and a bottle which had contained poison near the b °Sergeant Brown produced the bottle and glass. He said there was nothing spilt on the woman’s clothing, which was not disarranged. There were no signs of violence or that a struggle had taken place. The woman’s lips were burned by poison. “I am sure I would have discovered any money belt or anything of that nature had the woman been wearing one,” said William Richard Battersby. a funeral director, who conducted the woman’s funeral. “The body bore no marks of violence, but was badly burned about the lips,” he added. “I think you are to be congratulated on the inquiries you have made,’’ said the Coroner, to Sub-Inspector Flanagan, who appeared for the police. The Coroner said the evidence would squash any rumours about a money-belt having been on the body. To Mr Tunks the Coroner said that no post-mortem had been conducted as there was no reason to think that death was due to any other caus? than the taking of poison. Mr Southworth: There is no evidence that poison was the cause of death. The Coroner: It is queer that people who took such an interest in her did not come to the opening of the inquest. If there was a post-mortem in all cases where death was patently due to poisoning, there would need to be another pathologist at work all the time. . , , Mr Southworth, who asked permission to give evidence, said he had known the woman for seven monthsduring which time she had cleaned the church and led the choir. “I am treating this matter as if she was my sister, mother, or wife, as we all should,” he continued. “Here is the case of a woman, one of the most honourable women in Auckland, who meets death under tragic circumstances ** The Coroner: This is not evidence. This is a speech. Mr Southworth: No post-mortem was made. The Coroner: Step down. Step down. To Mr Tunks, Mr Southworth said the woman had appeared to be particularly cheerful lately, and apparently was not one who would commit suicide. To witness’s knowledge, the woman did not carry money about with her. The Coroner returned a verdict that the woman died from poison, selfadministered while in a state of great distress.