WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN ISOLATED BACH AT NEW BRIGHTON

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 8

WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN ISOLATED BACH AT NEW BRIGHTON

A Fuller Account of Christchurch Tragedy BODY HAD LAIN THERE THREE MONTHS “Times” Special. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The body of Emily Forward, aged about 21 years, was found in a house at North Beach, New Brighton, on Wednesday. She had been dead for three months. The gas had been turned on from a gas stove in the room where the body was found, but as the meter was of tho shilling-in-the-slot variety and the house was isolated, tho escape of gas had ceased before it could attract attention. When Mrs. Passmore, who discovered tho tragedy, arrived at tho back of the house at Bowhill road, she noticed u [peculiar smell, and, her suspicions being aroused, she asked A. Boag, an employee of a garage which adjoins the place, to investigate. On forcing au entrance, Boag discovered tho body seated in a chair, with the head lying over a gas tube, which had formerly been attached to the cooker. Mr. Boag. had a message sent to the police, and Constable Henderson, of New Brighton, and Constable M‘ Kay, of North Beach, took charge of the case. Later in tho day, Inspector Cameron, Chief Detective Carroll, and DetectiveSergeant O’Brien arrived from the city and made investigations. Mrs. Passmore received a severe shock and was sent to her home.

The body had not been shifted from its original position in the chair, and it was decided not to shift it until the next day, and that night a policeman guarded the bach. Despite the fact that the woman’s death must have occurred between two and three months ago, the rent of the bach had been paid regularly right up to date. It is a small building of two rooms, and is almost hidden at the rear of the section. It was taken for a term of twelve months early in the year by Mr, William Burgess, taxi-driver, of Christchurch, who regularly paid the rent fortnightly. Along with others in the vicinity, the bach is owned by Mr. J. L. Scarvell, of Leinster road, and the tenancy was arranged by Mr. E. A. M. Leaver, to whom Burgess paid the rent. Mr. Leaver said that ho had no idea that there was a woman on the premises. On one side of the bach, stands the Intercity motor garage and on the other is a small residence owned by Mrs. Nunn. She stated last evening that she had only seen the woman in the bach once, and others who live in the vicinity declare she was very reserved. It was generally believed that she had left the district. A Mr. Chapman, the gas company’s New Brighton representative, called at the bach on February 17 to make some repairs, and the woman was there. Then, a week ago, on May 29 another representative of the gas company called to read the meter, but, as he could not see anyone about, ho went away again. The bach was fairly comfortably furnished, and in it were found a quantity of woman’s clothes ,all articles of good quality, in addition to men’s clothes. An inquest was opened yesterday before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M. Irene Eobina Passmore, wife of Sydney Passmore, said that on Wednesday at about 12.30 p.m. she visited the bach and found the body, which she identified. Miss Forward had lived there for some time, and witness had visited nor .previously. She was a single woman, and witness had last seen her aliva about three months ago. | The Coroner: “Do you know why sha .went down there?’’ —“Yes, she couldn’t keep her position because she was ex pecting to be laid up, and was not in good health.” “You mean she was expecting to become a mother, and was not too well?” —“Yes, that’s it.” The inquest was adjourned sine die.