GIRL'S MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 6

GIRL'S MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

COEONER POSTPONES VERDICT. CHRISTCHURCH, October 10. Daisy Florence Turner, between 16 and 17 years' of age, whose parents live at Rolleston, and who was in the service of Mrs Henry Forwood, of Murray place, St. Albans, was found dead in bed this morning. The gas in the bedroom was turned on, and death had apparently been caused by asphyxiation. At the inquest, held before Mr H. W. Bishop, Susan Jane Forwood, wife of Henry Forwood, gave evidence that deceased had been in her service for nearly three weeks as housemaid. The girl did her work well, and"" appeared contented and happy. She never spoke at all of any trouble, but appeared contented and happy. She slept by herself in a bedroom, which was about 12 feet by 10 feet. There was a gas burner about seven feet, high on the wall of the room. The burner was an ordinary one, not an incandescent one. This was the only light the girl used. Deceased went to bed last night as usual at about 8 o'clock, and there was nothing whatever about her manner to call for any remark. The girl generally rose some time after 6 o'clock. Witness got c „up about 7 o'clock, and saw that deceased was not up. When witness went to the door of deceased's room she found it locked. Witness then smelt gas, and went round to the window and found that it was closed, but not fastened. Witness opened it and saw that the girl was lying quite still in bed. The cook got the steps and entered the room. She found that the gas was turned on and she turned it off. Witness sent for Dr Jennings. Witness thought the occurrence was purely accidental. The burner had a ring attached, and the tap turned very easily. Witness thought that perhaps the girl, after turning off the gas, had unwittingly turned it on again by catching her finger in it. - Fr Jennings said he found deceased lying on the bed dead with her back against the wall. The pillows were disarranged, and the girl's hands were clenched. Rigidity had set in, showing that death had occurred at least four hours previously. Witness had made a post-mortem and was of opinion that the cause of death was poisoning by illuminant gas. Annie Denniston, employed as cook by Mrs Forwood, corroborated the statement made by Mrs Forwood as to getting into the room. Deceased was one of the most lighthearted and cheerful girls witness had ever met. She was never out, and to witness's knowledge no man had ever paid her any attentions. The coroner said that, in view of the private medical information -given to him by Dr Jennings, he would reserve his verdict to enable a microscopical examination to be made of the girl's night attire.