DEATH OF WIDOW

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1938, Page 7

DEATH OF WIDOW

TRIBUTE TO POLICE

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, March 23. The police were congratulated on their exhaustive inquiries into the death of Mrs. Helena Owens, aged 48, charwoman, Kingsland, a widow, who was found dead beside the waterfront road on January 21, when the inquest was held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., Coroner.

" When the inquest opened Mr. C. S. 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 againsl

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, the 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 the deceased's clothing, which was not disarranged. There were no signs of violence or that a struggle had taken place. The deceased's lips were burned- by the poison. .

"I am sure I would have discovered any money belt or anything of that nature had the deceased been wearing one," said William Richard Battersby, funeral director, who conducted the deceased's funeral. "The body bore no marks of violence, ,but was badly burned about the lips."

"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 moneybelt 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 cvi dence that poison was the cause o: death.

The Coroner: It is queer that the people who took such an interest in l^er 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 Mrs. Owens for seven months, during which time she had cleaned the church and led the choir. "I am treating this matter as if she w,as '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 that Mrs. Owens had appeared to be particularly cheerful lately and was apparently not one who would commit suicide. To witness's , knowledge the deceased did not carry money with her.

The Coroner gave a verdict that the deceased died from poison self-adminis-tered while in a state of great distress.