DEATH BY BURNING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 28

DEATH BY BURNING.

SERIOUS ALLEGATION. DELIBERATELY SET ON FIRE.' QUARREL BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS. 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 the 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, "as arrested on a charge of having committed the 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 the city by the 6 a.m. train, and returned by the 9 a.m. train in possession, it is stated, of one 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 lie earned a supply of liquor, and first went to Ahlgrcn’s house. Ho had been paid off the barque Rona that day, and lie handed some money to Mrs Ahlgren, and later it was given into the possession of the woman Wilhamson. The first intimation of there being any serious consequences to the proceedings was icooived at t lie railway station. Brown itishcd over with the news that Mrs Ahlgren had been severely burned, and sa'd that urgent medical attention was required. A porter, Mr Wansbone, immediately responded to the call for assistance, and, running over to the cottage, found the injured woman huddled up in front of the fireplace in the common living room of the house moaning with the agony of the burns she had sustained. The depositions of the injured woman were taken at the hospital last night before Mr E. C. Outten, S.M. The woman Williamson was present. Ellen Ahlgren was able 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 a neighbour, went to her house in the morning, and remained till about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. They partook of beer together, but were not drunk. Mrs Williamson cleaned up the house, and deponent handed her some groceries. “ I swear she set fire to me,” she loudly exclaimed at this point. Inspector M’Gratli : How did she set fire to you ? Witness: She asked me down to her place and threw a bucket at me. T he Inspector: Why did she do this? Witness: Because she is always getting on to 'me. The Inspector: But how did she set fire to you ? Witness: She sot alight to my dress with a match. The Inspector: Was it done deliberately? Witness: Yes. It is not the first time she has trod to do away with me. I tried my best to put the fire out. In refen irtg to Mrs Williamsons hostility. the injured woman supplemented tier information by alleging undue familiarity between Mrs Williamson and her (deponent’s) husband. When she realised that her clothes were on fire she (“oiled on the grass in an endeavour to put the fire out. It was while outs’de Mrs Williamson’s house that the latter set fire to deponent's dress. Mrs Williamson walked inside, and deponent screamed for assistance, and, getting to response, struggled towards her own home. Deponent gave way under the strain, and partially collapsed. “ You have heard what this woman has said,” remarked the magistrate to Mrs Williamson. “ Yes; but I know nothing about it at all.” Mrs Williamson replied firmly. Rallying perceptibly, deponent was further questioned. " Was there any quarrel?” asked Mr Cuttcn. Witness: No. She only called me “ Black NelL” The Tnsneetor: When did she call you “ Black Noll?” Deponent: .After I got to her house. The Inspector: Was she sober? Deponent: Yes; we wore both sober. Deponent declared that Mrs Will.amsoa did not live with her husband, and was known by several names. Airs Williamson will appear at the Pol'ce Court on Friday next. 1 IUSBAND’S EVIDENCE. AUCKLAND, July 19. At the inquest on the death of Ellen Ahlgren, the victim of the Henderson burning sensation, John Ahlgren, in evidence, stated that when lie ai rived home he found his wife on the floor burned to the waist. He asked her bow it. happened. Bhe replied; “It is some of your fancy woman’s doings.” She v, , ; s a'so questioned by a constable, to whom she declared that Mrs Williamson had wilfu'iy set fire to her clothing. Witness admitted that the two women sometimes quarrelled. He denied that lie had I>eon unduly friendly with Mrs Williamson. His wife drank heavily, and ho believed that slio was "pretty full” on the day of the tragedy. He also stated that Mrs Williamson was not sober. The inquest was adjourned.