DROWNED IN THE CASTLE LAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14133, 7 August 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

DROWNED IN THE CASTLE LAKE.

STORY ■OF BARONETS ' DAUGHTER'S SAD END. Hiss. Gertrude M'art Middletox, . eldest daughter of Sir Arthur Middletori, Bart., of- Bel say Castle,, near Newcastle-bn-Tyne, j was found drowned in one of the cast« lakes a few weeks ago. . . Miss 'Middleton, who was 34 years ol age, was exceedingly popular throughout the countryside, and general sympathy; is ; felt with, the members of the family. / Shs was often out with the hounds and took, an interest in - all sports. . * . At an inquest held later in the.day.it ■ was stated that the young lady went out v i about 7.30, ; before breakfast,; for a waft, as she often did in the summer. Shortly afterwards ' she was . seen . near the/ south lake. _ • John Bewick, shepherd, said that his at- > j tention was drawn to the lake about 7.45 , through . seeing the cattle standing round, it. He went there": and saw Mies Middleton lying face downwards in 2ft of: water : about 14yds from th< shore. * ' , Dr. Goodall ascribed death' to suffocation due to immersion, and suggested that Miss Middleton fell in and fainted. ' • Mr. Lambert. Middleton, a cousin, said that: Mies Middleton was healthy and in good spirits. She had had influenza in the- winter, but was not in any way worried. _ ' . A suggestion was that Miss Middleton, who was a collector of eggs, was jumping from tussock to tussock" to search the bulrushes : or birds' nests when she lost her footing. A verdict of " Accidental death" was returned, the Coroner and jury expressing their deepest sympathy with Sir Arthur.