CAR OVER PRECIPICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17438, 9 April 1931, Page 7

CAR OVER PRECIPICE

WOMAN'S TERRIBLE DEATH WIFE OF SYDNEY MAN LONDON, March 20. Mrs. Mary Townsend, '■'•" year-', wife of Mr. David Townsend, of Sydney, was killed when a motor car she was driving plunged over a precipice nt Nice. Her body was found near the car. A letter found in her pocket said that she was tired of life. She sought forcgiveness, and specially begged thai, care should be taken of her five-year-old daughter. Mrs. Townsend, who lived at Cap Ferial, late last night .-ailed nt_ a restaurant, drank two brandies, rapidly wrote a letter to relatives, and then dashed off in the car. It is presumed that she chose the most dangerous spot in the neighborhood, and deliberately drove over the precipice.

Mr. Townsend says that he married his wife, who was formerly Aliss Peggy Davis, of the Zeigfeld Follies, seven years ago. He said that his wife had been suffering from acute neurasthenia. y.lr. Townsend is reported to have made several million dollars on the New York Stock Exchange.

In an interview, he said ho refused to believe that his wife had committed suicide. "She loved life and her child too much for suicide," he declared. "I fancy she was under the influence of brandy taken shortly before her death. The road was most winding where the accident occurred. I think she drove over the cliff accidently. If she had wanted to commit suicide there were other means less painful."