SUICIDE OVER DOG

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1928, Page 8

SUICIDE OVER DOG

GRIEF FOR PET ALSATIAN.

A curious story of a young wife’s love for an Alsatian dog that had bitten her severely after being run down by a car, was related at an inquest at Paddington, England, recently, on Annie Helnie, aged 23, who was found dead at her house.

The husband, a wholesale jeweller, stated that his wife had worried over an Alsatian dog that had been run over a week previously. The dog ran from her, and, after being injured, bit her five times on the hand and twice on the leg. She used to cry at nights because of this, and spent a lot of money on flowers for the dog’s grave. A gas-fitter, who was called to the house to trace a leak in the bathroom, gave evidence that he smelt gas coming from the top floor. Going to one of the rooms, he found it locked and paper protruding from underneath. The door was forced, and Mrs Helme was found lying on cushions dressed in a camisole and sports coat near to an open gas-oven, from which gas .was issuing. The coroner stated that a letter had been found which clearly indicated that the woman intended to take her life. He recorded a verdict of “Suicide while of unsound mind.”