RICH WOMAN HERMIT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19200, 17 June 1924, Page 5

RICH WOMAN HERMIT.

CORONER OX •’ FUNNY OLD LADIES.” An inquest wee held at Lambeth recently on Alice Smith, 63, a single woman of independent means, of 46 Frogmoro, The Plain. Wandflworlh, S.W.. who wa-s found drowned in the TliLimes off Brunswick wharf Lambeth, on Saturday evening. Mrs Ethel Lnscombc, of Windmill road, Brentford, Middlesex, said .Miss Smith her aunt, was very eccentric. She lived in hen own house and owned six others. Latolv she had had an idea that she was goin- to be evicted front her house. On March i-1 her aunt brought her ±BOO worth of War Loan and her keys, and said ■ ‘Tf anything happens to me take my securities to a solicitor at Brentfood," A police constable said it was estimated that the body had hern six weeks in the water. The woman was weaving a man’s hat and boots, size nine, odd stockings and a puttee round the light leg. Under her Skirl was a bag pinned to her clothing containing a number of pins that she had picked up. The Coroner (Mr Ingleby Oddie) paid Miss Smith was one of those funny old ladies whom one came across occasionally, living alone and keeping entirely to themselves. She had a good deal of money, and was living like a hermit, in a state of filth surrounded by old newspapers, cigarette ends, old boots, and anything that she could find and collect and take home in (nr.mph. The only entrance to hoi house was through heaps of rubbish. She was known to he very eccentric and obviously was nat mentally sound. Ho leturncd a verdict suicide while of unround mind.