TRAGEDY AT NEWTON

Evening Star, Issue 18141, 4 December 1922, Page 6

TRAGEDY AT NEWTON

SHOOK FOR LITTLE DAUGHTER. On awakening this morning, about 7.30 (says Thursday's Auckland ‘Star’), the eig'ht-yenr-old daughter of Mary Ormond, who resided at Ho. 30a Hayden street, Newton, noticed that her mother was not in bed as usual, and on going in to the kitchen found her lying on the floor. Becoming frightened, the littlo girl rushed into a neighbor’s house, and informed Mr Alfred Lowry of what she had seen. Mr Lowry at once went inside with the girl, and! discovered the deceased on the floor, on her back', dad in her night attire. She was unconscious, and a gas tube connected with the pipe near the mantelpiece was hanging about 2in from her mouth, with tho tap turned full on. Mir Lowry immediately summoned Ur J. W. Maikcll, but Mrs Ormond died without speaking before medical assistance arrived.

Tlio police are unable to ascertain at present whether the deceased's husband is alive, while they cannot give her age, but it is thought that it was about forty years. For the last two years deceased had been employed in tea rooms. The police understand that the deceased has a brother-in-law in Wellington. Tho little girl made a statement to the police this morning for the purposes of the coronial inquiry. She stated that the deceased 1 was her mother. Last night a man, whom the little girl always "know as “ Undo Tom,” visited the house. Her mother was at work as usual yesterday, and last night on retiring did not complain of feeling unwell. She was in her usual spirits. From tho appearance of tho kitchen table this morning it was evident that two persons had 1 partaken of supper last evening.