WOMAN'S LONELY DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17596, 8 October 1920, Page 4

WOMAN'S LONELY DEATH.

DISCOVERY OK HER BODY. - • ■ * . DIED TWO MONTHS AGO. RESIDENT OF PARNELL, A gruesome discovery was made 5-ester* '". : day morning in a 'house fa Garfield Street, f Parneil, the decomposed body of a woman' Alice Allcorn, being found in a room in ' - the lower portion-of the house, where she > had resided alone for about two and a-h&lf years. The other portion of the house was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Beteridge, and the latter had her attention drawn to the room by her young child accidentally breaking the window. On investigation - she saw the body in the bed. The police, who were informed, broke in the door of the room, which was locked on the inside. Deceased, who was about 45 years of age, had last been seen about-the middle of August, and from the condition of the body death must have c :currcd about that time. Very little was known of her. as she was somewhat eccentric aDd lived alone, and was seldom seen in the daytime, though the other occupants of the house heard her moving about at night. Owing to her habits, and the fact that she had a separate entrance, her absence had not been noticed. Her room, though untidy, showed no signs of disorder and a sum of money was lying near her head. It is thought that deceased was a native of Sussex, England, and had received re-

mittances, as she was of independent means. It is not known if she had any relatives in New Zealand.

An inquest was opened in the afternoon by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. Evidence as to the finding of the body was taken. The medical evidence wag to the effect

that death was' due to natural causes, and

had occurred about two months ago, and, from the! position of the body, deceased had died in her sleep. The inquest was adjourned till' Tuesday morning to enable further inquiries to be made.