A MANTLE OF FLAMES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 96, 29 April 1910, Page 3

A MANTLE OF FLAMES.

TRAGEDY OF CHINATOWN

Nellie Lee Wong Sow, a European woman, who was married to a Chinese, was admitted on the morning of the 12th to tlis Melbourne Hospital, suffering from severe burns. She died next day. : The police bave interviewed Wong ; Sow, the husband of the deceased, ; and it now appears that the woman, i who was 24 years of age, deliberately : poured kerosene over'her clothes, and ■ set herself alight. Wong Sow, who' '•■ is a cabinetmaker, states that late on : Monday night his wife was drunk, ■: and threatened to kill herself because ; lie objected to her heavy drinking. j She picked up a tin of kerosene, and i poured the contents over her dress. | Wong Sow caught hold of her, and I called in Rose Lacey, who lived next j door. Rose Lacey went in, and perj suaded the deceased to lie down. She j also took a. box of matches, which the I deceased had in her possession. Mrs ! Wong Sow seemed quieter, and asked i for a cigarette, which was given to j her. When Rose Lacey left the house ' Mrs Wong Sow asked her husband j for a match, to light the cigarette. j After she had lit the cigarette she i threw the match on her dress, whether accidentally or by design is not known. Slie was immediately in flames. Wong Sow called Rose Lacey in again, and they beat out the flames, Wong Sow severely burning liis hands as he did so. His wife was wrapped in a blanket, but tore it off, and rushed screaming into the lane. Her husband caught her, and took Ivor to the hospital, where she died. The Coroner found that deceased had set lire to herself whilst in a state of mental unsoundness from chronic alcoholism.