MURDER OR SUICIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9061, 23 May 1888, Page 5

MURDER OR SUICIDE.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A WOMAN. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Daroavillk, Tuesday. A very mysterious death by drowning took place on Sunday night. Mrs. Mary MeKenzie, reported to be a widow, a dressmaker at the Mangawhare Store, accompanied by Messrs. Harding and Hoskings, went to church. She afterwards walked part of the way home with the former, and returned with the latter, and left him at his gate, a few yards from her own abode. About nine o'clock several people, both here and at Mangawhare heard the screams of a woman in distress, apparently proceeding from the water, but could see no one. At one o'clock yesterday Henry Cooksey found the body of the deceased left on the bank of the river at ebb tide. It was completely dressed, even to the kid gloves on the hands. The clothes were over the head. There was a large wound on the mouth, apparently from a blow, her projecting front teeth having penetrated the lip. On the body being taken to deceased's house, her slippers wore found in front of the fender, and the lamp was still burning. Constable McLeod, who roturned last night from Auckland, took charge of the case, and an, inquest is now proceeding. Deceased, on returning frdm church one" Sunday last March found some men in her house, who rarf away "after cutting lier best' silk dross into sheds, and be spattering her other clothes with mud. She nas since been in great bodily fear, but has never stated to her friends who she feared. Her husband is supposod to be still alive, and working on the gumfields. Sho sent an harmonium recently to her sisters, the Misses Nixon, at New Plymouth. There is great excitement here ovor the affair, everybody asking is it murder or suicide, or what ? The screams heard wore two short ones, and ono long one.