DEATH BY DROWNING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16462, 14 June 1919, Page 6

DEATH BY DROWNING.

FATE OP MRS. GARDINER. The fears which were entertained for the safety of Mrs. Ethel Grace Gardiner, whose disappearance was reported on Friday, were unfortunately confirmed at about 8.80 in the afternoon, when her body was recovered in the Henni River in a. deep pool about 150 yards above the railway bridge. The body was fully clothed, except for shoes and hat. One of the shoes had been found by Mr. S. J. Barnes on the bank about a chain from the place in the river where the body was discovered, and there were marks nearby that indicated someone having slipped into the water. Dragging operations were carried out from a boat by Constables Wrohlenski and Nolan, Messrs. R. Bennoch and A. Scott, and several relatives of deceased lady. The body was taken to the residence of Mr. J. Abbott, who was Mrs. Gardiner’s brother, and an inquest was to bo opened at 2 o’clock this afternoon.

It appears that Mrs. Gardiner, whose age was 35 years, had been in indifferent health since the sudden death of her husband two years ago. A week atfo she went from her father’s home to the residence of Mr. F. T. Bellringer, her brother-in-law. Her manner before retiring on Thursday evening was quite natural.