DROWNED IN THE AVON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5455, 6 January 1896, Page 2

DROWNED IN THE AVON.

About ten o'clock yesterday morning^ :a toan' nailed Henry George Branton went to bathe in the river by the Carlton Bridge* when he saw the body of a woman lying in about four feet of water, close to the piles of the bridge. The woman had evidently been dead some time. He gave information to the police, and, with Constable Eamsay, assisted to remove the body to the Carlton Hotel. Shortly afterwards the "body was identified by Mr William Howe as that of his wife. He states that for some years she has been wandering in her mind, and disappeared on: Saturday night about eleven o'clock, and although he and his son. and daughter at once went out in search, they could find no trace of her. Deceased was forty-eight years old.

"An inquest was held at the Carlton Hotel at half-past eight this morning. Mr E. Beetham was coroner, ■ and Mr Thomas Brunton foreman of the jury. Evidence as to the finding of the body was given. William Howe, the husband, stated that for Borne years his late wife had suffered from pain in the head, and that the doctors had been unable to do anything for her. Two years ago she attempted to commit suicide by cutting her throat. During the recent hot weather she frequently complained of pains in her head, and threatened . to drown herself. She was not insane enough to render it necessary to send her to the lunatic asylum ; she was quite harmless. On Saturday night she sent her daughter to buy some fruit, and having got her out of the way left the house. On missing her, he and his son and daughter at once instituted a search, but could find no trace of her. George Howe, son of the last witness^ gave similar evidence. The jury returned a i vefdict that deceafee'd was, found 1 drowned, and that the evidence .showed that she. had -been' subject to fits of temporary insanity. .'■• • •