INQUEST CONCERNING DEATH OF WIDOW

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 13

INQUEST CONCERNING DEATH OF WIDOW

Police Contgratulated By Coroner STATEMENTS BY VICAR By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland March 23. The police were congratulated on their exhaustive inquiries into the death of Mrs. Helena Owens, aged’4B, charwoman, Kingsland, a widow, who was found dead beside the waterfront road on January 21, when the inquest was held before Mr. E. K. Hunt, S.M., 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 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 returned, but no verdict was returned.” “I said nothing about that,” said the vicar, Rev. Thomas • Southworth. A milk roundsman, Cedric Andrews, said he noticed the body about 5.30 a.m. Witness drove to Kohimarama and advised the 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 body. ' Sergeant Brown produced a bottle and a glass. He said there was nothing spilt on deceased’s clothing, which was not disarranged. There were no signs of violence or that a struggle had taken place. Deceased’s lips were burned by the poison. “I am sure I would have discovered any money belt or anything of that nature had deceased been wearing one,” said William Richard Battersby, funeral director, who conducted deceased’s funeral. “The body bore no marks of violence, but was badly

“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 examination had been conducted as there was no reason to think death was, due to any other cause than the taking of poison. Mr. Southworth: There is no evidence that ■' poison was the cause of death.

The coroner: It is queer that the people who took such an interest in her did not come to the opening of the inquest. If there was a postmortem examination 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 deceased for seven months, during 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 a 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 examination was made. The coroner: Step down, step down. To Mr. Tunks, Mr. Southworth said deceased had appeared to be particularly cheerful lately and was apparently not one who would commit suicide. To witness’s knowledge deceased did not' carry money about with her. The coroner gave a verdict that deceased died from poison self-adminis-tered while in a state of great distress.