THE SUMNER TRAGEDY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1360, 22 June 1918, Page 10

THE SUMNER TRAGEDY.

INQUEST ON THE VICTIM. VERDICT OF SUICIDE. An inquest was conducted by Mr IT. W. Bishop, S.M., District Coroner, at the hospital yesterday afternoon, concerning the death of Sarah Taylor, of Prebbleton, whose body was found at the foot of the cliffs at Whitewash Head yesterday morning.

John George Taylor, husband of the deceased, said that she was 44 years of age, and lived with witness at Prebbleton. Witness last saw the deceased alive at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday, when she left to visit her sister at Gloucester Street, Christehureh. The deceased did not enjoy very good health, and sometimes spoke rather peculiarly. She had sometimes spoken of suicide in a light manner, but never seriously. There were seven children. Witness and deceased hail always lived on the best of terms.

Win. /John Hampton, constable stationed at Sumner, said that at ■ > p.m. on Thursday a bundle of woman's clothing, which had been found on Scarborough cliff, was brought to him by Mr Allen. At 8 o'clock the following morning witness secured assistance and found the body at high-water mark under the cliff, at a spot beneath where the clothing had been found. The distance from where the clothing was found to where the body lay was from 2;>o to :'.()() feet, and almost a sheer drop. The body had first fallen on the rocks, and had later been in the water, but had been washed back. The deceased was dressed only in her underclothes when found. The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide Inthrowing herself over a cliff at Scarborough, while in a state of unsound mi ad.