RECLUSE DIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 August 1943, Page 3

RECLUSE DIES

UNCONSCIOUS IN OLD MANSION

SYDNEY, June 23

The death occurred in Prince Alfred Hospital yesterday of Miss Edith Clements, 83, after she had been discovered by a night watchman in her old mansion, where she lived alone, in Cambridge Street, Stanmore ; in circumstances which suggested at first to detectives that she had been the victim of foul play. Bruises and cuts were over her left eye and on her left arm and leg. but a post-mortem examination disclosed that the cause of death was nephritis, a disease of the kidneys. The bruises and cuts about her were several days old and it is believed that they were caused by plaster falling from the crumbling ceilings of her home. . Miss Clements was the only sister of Frederick Moore Clements, who came to Sydney many years ago with £4O and amassed a fortune out ol the salt' of a patent medicine. Prior to his death in 1920, he had several disputes with his sister, who came to Sydney from England to keep house for him. His estate was value I. for probate purposes at about £lll,OOO. and in an amended will he le - 1 his fortune to charities. Miss Clements, however, su< cessfully disputed the will in 1921 and came into possession of the fo: tune. Ever since she had lived as a n cluse in the old mansion. Valuable t irniture and fittings were allowed t > rot. Occasionally she went for a tax ride but her main communication with the outside world was by telep tone. Police believe that on Sunda; she was struck by plaster as it fell Tom the ceiling. She staunched the b.ceding and then attempted to reac ' the telephone to call for help, but collapsed near it. She was found here I unconscious by police after the ight (watchman reported at 4 a.m. yc terday that milk had been left untc iched on her doorstep.