DEATH OF FARMER'S WIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21315, 17 October 1932, Page 12

DEATH OF FARMER'S WIFE

" EXCEEDINGLY SAD CASE " OVERWORK AFFECTS HEALTH . :<|g JpY [from our own correspondent] '' I HAMILTON, Saturday The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Lid>'ding ton, aged 35, wife of Amos Lid dington, farmer, Rukuhia, was the subject of an inquest held by the coroner, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., to-day. Deceased was' found dead at her home on October 8, and evidence that she had taken poison yas found. At the inquest Dr. T. C. Fraser and Dr. A. G. Waddell said the appearance of the body was consistent with poisoning. Constable F. N. Aplin said he had found a bottle of poison in the house. The coroner said it was quite clear that deceased had committed suicide by taking poison. It was a very sad case indeed. The woman's health had broken down through overwork. She had been doing a man's work in the milking shed and a woman's work in the house as well. She was milking in the shed from five o'clock in the morning and also took part in the evening milking. Her health then broke down and in May she was admitted to a mental hospital, continued the coroner. From there she went to the Waikato Hospital and was later transferred to a nurse's home in Hamilton. She was again admitted to the mental hospital on July 8. The patient was suffering from hallucinations and acute depression. On July 24 her husband made representations to the superintendent of the hospital that he had two women in his house who would look after his wife. Quite rightly, the superintendent agreed to let deceased out, said Mr. Wilson. These ■ representations wero not carried out. Ihe woman wag left by herself and she took the poison. It was an exceedingly sad caSe. /The corOuer returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while in a state of acute mental depression.