TRAGEDY ON FARM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22580, 19 November 1936, Page 12

TRAGEDY ON FARM

MOTHER ANI) BABY BODIES FOUND IN SAND PIT DEATH BY DROWNING [it V TKLEGRAI'H —OWN CORRESPONDENT] MATAMATA, Wednesday With her fivo-months-old baby son clasped in her arms Mrs. Nellie Mildred Ford, aged 23, was found drowned in shallow water in a sand pit about I.soyds from her home at Wardville, near Matainata, late yesterday afternoon. The bodies were discovered by the husband, Mr. Cecil Pcrcival Ford, and a woman friend of Mrs. Ford. In giving evidence at the inquest held before the coroner, Mr. A. .T. Tong, at Matainata this afternoon, the husband, a farmer, said that on tho morning of tho tragedy liis wife expressed the intention of going to Matainata to do some Christmas shopping. Ho gave her a cheque and then left to go about his usual duties on tin; farm. Returning to the house about 3.30 o'clock in tli<; afternoon lie found his wife was still absent, and telephoned neighbours and friends in an endeavour to locate her. Later ho found the cheque !ie had given his wife in the morning lying on a table with a note, on which was written, "Don't blame anyone for what I have done." Witness said ho then went to Matamata. and returned with a girl friend of his wife's, and together they commenced to search the grounds in the vicinity of the house. They found the two bodies lying in about 18in. of water. The child was clasped in his mother's arms and a large piece of concrete was tied about the mother s neck. His wife had been in normal spirits and good health, witness continued, and their married life had been very happy. There were no financial worries and he could think of no reason why his wife should want to take her life. Corroborative evidence regarding the finding of the bodies was given by Miss E. Dobson, a friend of Mrs. Dr. J. G. Mackereth, of Matamata, also gave evidence. Tho coroner returned a verdict ot suicide while in a state of mental depression in the case of the mother and of death by drowning in the case of tho child.