DEATH BY GAS POISONING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18018, 17 February 1922, Page 6

DEATH BY GAS POISONING.

HOUSEKEEPER TO PRIEST.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAIHI, Thursday.

A distressing discovery was made by Father O'Hara at his residence adjoining the Roman Catholic Church in Mueller Street late last night by finding the dead body of his housekeeper, Edith Teresa Spencer, lying on the doorway of the scullery. The deceased had of late shown signs of depression and her duties had not been performed as usual. Father O'Hara had spoken to her on the subject last Monday, whereupon she gave tiim one month's notice to leave. He met the deceased a little before 7 o'clock last evening coming out of the church and later lie retired to the presbytery, where he remained until about 9 o'clock. He then went to his study. About 11.30 o'clock, noticing the presence of gas fumes, he started rin investigation of the premises. In the scullery he found the deceased lying on the floor and discovered a rubber tube attached 'to the gas jet witiT the tap full on. The end of the tube was close to the face of the deceased, and over her head was a towel. Later a note was found directing that her personal, effects should go to her sister; also that her will would be found in a tureen in a se.iiled envelope which was addressed to her sister at Panmnre. On it was written "Not to be opened until I am no more.' 1

J The late Miss Spencer was 40 years of ai?e and had been in Father O'Hara's ' employ for 17 years. Her parents reside at Panmurc. At the inquest held to-day a verdict of death from coal-gas poisoning was returned. A postmortem examination showed that all the organs were perfectly healthy.