SAVED FROM STARVATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21784, 25 October 1932, Page 5

SAVED FROM STARVATION

SISTERS LIVE AS HERMITS DISTRESSING DISCOVERY. Two aged sisters, who lived in hermitage in a secluded house near the shore at Southbourne, Bournemouth, England, were lately saved from starvation by the milkman. Miss Nelly Shoveller and her sister Alice were found helpless in their home by the police, who were called by the milkman when he could get no response to his knocks on the door. The police entered the house by the back door, and, going to the bedroom, found Miss Nelly Shoveller, who is 82 years old, in bed. She had been bedridden with arthritis for 25 years. Her sister, Alice, was lying in her night clothes by the side of the bed. She had a broken thigh. They were taken by ambulance to a nursing home and are making fair progress. Neighbours state that the sisters used to communicate with the outside world by notes passed through the window to errand bovs who called at the house. When the milkman called with the milk at about 9 o'clock in the morning he received no answer to his knocks. He called the neighbours and the police. The two sisters have lived in Bournemouth for about 40 years, and some time nco dispensed with the services of a maid. They lived only in the upstairs portion ot their house and seemed to have money. It is understood that they have a married sister whose whereabouts is unknown