BURNT TO DEATH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 9

BURNT TO DEATH.

DiuTNTi AKD DELIETUM. The story of a young woman’s degradation and (loath through drink was told at the Melbourne morguo the other day, when the coroner held an inquiry respecting the death of Ellen Josephine Lee ..hug Sow. a white woman ■ married to a Chinese. She died in the Melbourne Hospital on April 7th, the result of burns. Katherine Murray, a widow, residing at South Kensington, stated that deceased was her daughter. The young noman was 21 years of age, had been living with a Chinese in Kyto tsdano, I/ee Wong Sow, for four years. Witness hud often besought her to return to Uor liL/ine, but she always refused. To the Coroner—My daughter said that she was married to Lee Wong Sow in the Chinese fashion lour years ago. but last montn they were marrieu by a priest. Dr James Fairlie, of the Melbourne Hospital, stated that he adnmtcu a«»ceased ora April 4th. She was shocking* ly burnt, and died three days later.

To tn© Coroner. —The young woman admitted to iuo that it was ail her own uoiiig. • bhe had set lire to herself. A month beiore i attended her in th« Hospital lor delirium tremens.

tvos© Lacey, a married woman, residing jm hyie s-lane, stated that sue ansicced to take deceased to her bedroom wnen wong bow called her in on iuouduy last, JUeceased had soaited nerseli in kerosene, and threatened to hro to heraeil. Sue was mud with drmk at ih© time, witness 'and deceased’s husband tied her hands behind her back u, prevent net* reaching the matches, on© uii'ii mao.© repealed, ©norm to get uoid or the lamp. hater she managed to tree a uand, and set me to her blouse with a nuiLcu. Witness tried to beat out the haines.- .Deceatood had had a waoie ootcie oi braimy that morning.

Le© Vvoug bow (through an interpreter; stated mat ne neipou u> try to put out tn© names, ms wile toi© her domes on, ana ran into tne streets.

Thomas Connell, a night-watchman, stated mat me saw dceeasou, wrapped in frames, run into the street. ©uvurea her with jus oveico&t, and later assisted. to tan© her to cue Hospital,

Joshua Mark*?, a hawker, vrtxo assisted the last witness, su*uxi iliac j*c nad jsjio wn tue ueceascxi' xor tliree muntlis. .tie had never seen ner sober.

Tho Coroner found that deeca-std had 3ac nro to nerseu aluisc in a slate of JUUUai UUsOUiiUiic&S iloui carO-iic aiciioiism.