RADIO SHOCK TO WIFE
HUSBAND DANGEROUSLY ILL. •A woman who had not seen her husband since he vanished from home 18 years previously heard of him through a wireless SOS saying that he was dangerously ill. He died before she could reach him. The story of this drama was disclosed at the inquest at Brighton on Walter Edward Whipple, aged 66, commercial traveller, who was found unconscious in a room full of gas at Brighton. Mrs. Annie Sophia Whipple, who was in tears during her evidence, stated that 30 years ago her husband left home one morning and was later found suffering from loss of memory at Hastings. He returned, but in 1915 left home again, and she never saw him afterwards, in spite of every effort to trace his whereabouts.
“My son-in-law was listening to the witeless,” ' continued Mrs. Whipple, “when he heard the SOS. We telephoned to the hospital but heard that my husband was dead.” Mrs. Whipple identified the handwriting of farewell letters as that of her husband. In one he wrote: “I am entirely alone in the world. I can stand no more of this horrible loneliness. But for the additional burden of financial trouble I might have carried on a little longer.” A verdict of “Suicide while of unsound mind” was recorded.
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Bibliographic details
Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 16
Word Count
217RADIO SHOCK TO WIFE Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 16
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