DEATH BY STARVATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1924, Page 10

DEATH BY STARVATION.

WIDOW’S PATHETIC END, SQUALID SURROUNDINGS AN ESTATE WORTH £4OOO, “It is remarkable that the woman should have lived so meanly,” said Mr. Widdowson, district coroner, at Christchurch at the inquest into the circum* stances of the death of Mrs Elizabeth Hansley, 70 years of age, who was found dead in her home, 33, Montreal Street, Sydenham, on Thursday morning* William S. Hunsley identified the body as that of his step-mother, whom he ifcaid was a widow. Her estate was worth about £4OOO. Henry Hammond, storekeeper, residing at Sydneham, said that in company with one of his customers he visited the house of Mrs. Hunsley because he had not seen her about for some days, and because he learned people were becoming anxious for her welfare. When they arrived at the houce they -discovered all the doors and windows locked. After continued and loud knocking they forced back a window and witness entered. The place was dirty, and when he entered the bedroom of the woman he was amazed to find her lying huddled up on the floor in her night attire. Sergeant W. McKenzie, stationed at Sydenham, said he went to the house and there found the emaciated body of an elderly woman lying on the floor. He searched the house, which was in a very dirty condition, and was astonished to find that the only food in it was an old crust of bread, which was in a drawer, and a little piece of butter which was on the mantelpiece. The woman showed many signs of starvation. In one room he found the sum ?f £4 0s 2d in a drawer and almsst £7 In a safe in another He continued his investigations and found a post office savings bank book which showed a credit of £12,000. After that he made inquiries from business men und lawyers and gathered that the deceased had been too mean to make a will. Dr. Crooke eaid he had examined the body and found it was ill-nourished and showed signs of starvation. Death had taken place about a week ago, and it appeared to have been due to natural causes. The coroner returned a verdict that the woman had been found dead at'her home and that death was due to heart failure following exhaustion accelerated by starvation.