“SET ALIGHT”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 5

“SET ALIGHT”

SUICIDE OF WOMAN

SHOCKING DEATH

POLICEMAN’S WIFE

WING 11AM, Dec. 20. Evidence that Mrs. Margaret Sewell, wife of Constable Sewell, of Wmgham, had poured benzine over her clothes on Saturday and then set alight to them was given to-day at the coroner’s inquiry into her death. She was shockingly burned and was removed to hospital, nut died a few hours later. The coroner found that she had committed suicide while temporarily insane. Dr. E.. F. Erby, Government medical officer at Wingham, stated that on arrival at the home of Constable Sewell, he saw Mrs. Sewell lying on the grass in her backyard, covered with a blanket. Her clothing had been practically burnt of! her body. He heard he.r say to her husband, ‘‘Get a nice young girl and marry her, so that she can ioolc after Douglas.” She was singing hymns. Clutched in her left hand was a bolt of safety matches, said witness. On the kitchen table was a note, written m pencil, stating that Mrs. Sewell was responsible for her own injuries. Mrs. Sewell died in Carlyle Private Hospital about 2.20 p.m. on the same day, from shock duo to burns.

Some time in June, 1933, witness saw Mrs. Sewell at Carlyle Private Hospital, and ordered her transfer to a mental hospital. Gertrude May Unger stated that she was sitting in tho kitchen, talking to Mrs. Witehard, with whom she shared rooms, when she heard screams. She ran out and saw Mrs, Sewell <u her yard, with her hair and top portion of her clothing well uliglit. Witness was away about an hour ami a quarter. Constable Sewell said that for two or three nigbts his wife had not been sleeping too well. When called from the police station to his wile, she said to him: “Forgive me, love; look after Douglas.” At the time she was in great pam, badly burned, and the nurses were putting oil on her. Kevin Douglas Sewell, a schoolboy and son of deceased, said he was lighting an oil stove, when he saw “Mum” pour out about half a cup of benzine. “1 am going to light the fire,” she said, but put the benzine back in the tin later. At 10 a.m. his mother, who seemed worried, told him to go to the shop and get a Christmas present for himself, giving him a £1 note.