DEATH BY BURNING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15820, 19 July 1913, Page 4

DEATH BY BURNING.

SERIOUS ALLEGATION,

DELIBERATELY' SET ON FIRE.

-QUARREL BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS.

(Per United Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 18. As the result of a quarrel at Henderson late yesterday afternoon, a middle-aged woman, Ellen Ahlgren, was last evening admitted to tho Auckland Hospital suffering from shocking injuries, from which she died at noon to-day. These injuries she is alleged to have received through her clothes being; deliberately set on fire, and a neighbour, Sarah Alice Williamson, was arrested on a charge of having committed tho assault. Although details of what actually occurred are meagre and not easy to piece together, an outstanding feature of the affair is that there had been a good deal of drinking. Mr Ahlgren visited tho city by the 6 a.m. train, and returned by the 9 a.m. train in possession, it is stated, of ono or two bottles of beer. By the midday train there arrived "Billy" Brown a man who had previously lived at Henderson, and it is alleged he earned a supply of liquor, and first went to Ahlgron's hoUfiC He had been paid off the barque Rona that day, and ho handed some money to Mrs Ahlgren, and later it was given into the possession of tho woman Williamson. The first intimation of there being any serious coasecmences to the proceedings was received at tho railway station. Brown riished over -with the news that Mrs Ahlgren had been severely burned, and saxl that -urgent medical attention was required. A porter, Mr Wansbone, immediately responded to the call for assistance, and, running over to the cottage, found tho injured woman huddled up in front of the fireplace- in tho common living room of tho house moaninrr with the agony of the burns she had sustained.

Tho depositions of tho injured woman were taken at the Jicsoital last night before Mr K. C. Outten, S.M. The woman Williamson was present. Ellon Ahlgren was a-blo to give her depositions coherently, but occasionally she made violent interjections, especially in charging accused with committing the injury. Deponent stated that Mrs Williamson, who was n neighbour, went to her house in the morning, and remained till about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. They partook of beer together, but -wore not! drunk. Airs Williamson cleaned up tho house, and deponent handed her some groceries- "I swear she set fire to me," she loudly exclaimed at this point. Inspector. M'Grath: How did she set fire to you?

Witness: She .isked me down to her place and throw a bucket at me.

The inspector: Why did she do this? Witness: Because she is always Retting o.n to mo.

The Inspector: But how did she set fire to you?

Witness: She set alight to my drrts with a match,

The Inspector: Was it done deliberately? Witness: Yes. It is not the first tinie she has tried to do away with me. I tried my best to put the fire out. 11l referring to Mrs Williamson's hostility, the injured woman supplemented her information by alleging undue familiarity between Mrs Williamson and her (deponent's) husband. When she realised that her clothes were on fire she rolled on the graes in an endeavour to put the fire out. It was while outside Mrs Williamson's house that the latter set firo to deponent's dress. Mrs Williamson walked inside, and deponent screamed for assistance, and, getting no response, struggled towards her own home. Deponent gave way under the strain, and partially collapsed. "You have heard what tfiis ■woman has ?aid," remarked the magistrate to Mrs Williamson.

"Yes; but I know nothinsr about it at all." Mrs Williamson replied firmly.

Rallying perceptibly, deponent was further questioned. ■'Was there anv quarrel?" asked Mr Cutten.

Witness: No. She onlv called me " Black Nell."

The Insoector: When did she call you " Black Noll?"

Deponent: After I got to her house. The Inspector: Was she sober? Deponent: Yes; we were both 6obcr. Deponent declared that Mrs Williamson "did not live with her husband, and was known bv several names.

Mrs Williamson will appear at the Police Court on Friday nort.