THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11226, 3 June 1922, Page 6

THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

“ I’M SO UNHAPPY ” PATHETIC LETTER FROM THE UNFORTUNATE GIRL. “IT HAS BROKEN MY HEART.** (Special to “N.Z. Times.”) AUCKLAND, June 2. At the inquest touching the death of Ina Mary Nalder, 24 years of age, and Hetty Nalder, six years of age, the victims of the Strand Arcade tragedy, the coroner (Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M.) returned a verdict “That the deceased, fna Mary Nalder, committed suicide while insane, and Betty Nalder either went over or ’was pushed over the rail from the fourth storey of the Strand Arcade building with or by Ina Mary Nalder, while she was in a state of insanity.” * A QUIET AND RESPECTABLE GIRL. The first witness was John Edward Dicketts, superintendent of the Pacific Cable Board Company in Auckland. The deceased, he stated,' Ina Nalder, had been employed in the office since January 20th, 1919, as an abstract clerk. She was twenty-six years of age. Witness last saw her at five minutes to ten a.m. at the office in the Post Office building. There was nothing in her demeanour to attract bis attention, and she never exhibited signs of depression, and to his knowledge had no reason for committing suicide. Deceased was a very quiet and respectable girl. “THE REAL TRUTH.” Albert A Brown, owner of the Stone* hurst boardinghouse, Symonds street, next deposed that he knew both the deceased. He identified one of the bodies as that of Betty Nalder, who was the adopted child of Ina Nalder’s mother. Mrs Nalder died some two years ago, and the adopted child Betty was automatically handed to her daughter, the deceased. Deceased was very fond of the child, which was about six years old. The little girl was admitted to the Auckland Hospital daring the Christmas holidays suffering from a broken arm, and yesterday morning Ina Nald&r went to the hospital and got her, stating that sho was going to give her a “treat” and would bring her back to the hospital in the afternoon. Yesterday was the , first time that the little girl had been * out of the institution. Witness’s daughter, who was very friendly with the deceased, received the following note from her:— “My dear Esther, —The real truth of the cause of my death is that Alan has become engaged to a girl in Rotorua. It has broken my heart. I am taking Betty with me, because this is not a happy world at the best of times, and it would be a shame to leave her to face it alone. Good-bye. Esther. May you have the best of luck. Please do not worry about me.— Ina.” Sergeant Capp also gave evidence as to finding the bodies and the coat and handbag of the deceased. “I CANNOT LIVE ANY LONGER.’* The coroner then opened the letter which was found addressed to him in the hag recovered by the police after the woman had flung heiWf over the rails. Tins was sent from the Pacific Cable Board, and said that the writer was too unhappy, asdshe could not live longer. She gave instructions that her money, about £I2OO, should he given to the Auckland Hospital. The coroner stated, in returning the verdict as given above, that it was quite obvious that the young woman was in a state of unsound mind, and that he did.not think under the circumstances that it was necessary to return a verdict of wilful murder and suicide.