TRAGEDY NEAR SCARBOROUGH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16732, 13 May 1922, Page 10

TRAGEDY NEAR SCARBOROUGH.

DEATH OF mas a. M. MACDONALD. FALL OVER THE CLIFFThe body of Mrs Macdonald, wife of Mr Ranald .‘WI- hiacdonald, of “Hamblck den.” 103. Benley Avenue. was found by a search party early this morning at the foot of the cliffs at Whitewash Head. Scarborough. The clifls at this point are about 200 ft high, and there is no doubt that Mrs Macdonald fell from the top, as the body was very badly bruised and many bones were broken. The search party had some difficulty in recovering the body, which was removed to the Christchurch illorgue. Yesterday morning Mrs Miaodonald wont to visit a friend at Sumner. Her husband promised to meet her later in the day on the bills at Scarborough and have lunch with her. However, when )Ir Macdonald arrived at the appointed meeting—place he could find no trace of his wife. After searching round for her and communicatingwith his home to see if she was there, he informed Constable Hampton. A thor~ ough search was made by Mr Macdonald and the constable, and Mrs Macdonalrl‘s umbrella and bag were found near the edge of the cliffs. Constable Hampton then got a. (crew of experienced men and set out in a boat to search the foot of the clifis. The scarch was abandoned when darkness fell. At seven o'clock this morning Constable Hampton, accompanied by Nlessrs James Carter. William Carter, Harold Stenner, P. lW’Carthy andJ“. Haase continued the search in a boat; and the body was seen lying at the foot of “'hitewash Head. Owing to the heavy swell and the fact that \l‘hitewasb Head is an exposed point. the task of recovering the body was a dangerous one. After a great. deal of difficulty. two of the party were landed on the rocks, and they secured the body. The search party are Edeserving of special praise for the plucky manner in which they recovered the body. which was only partly clothed. A careful search was made at the top of the clifi's for clothing, but none was found. Mrs )lacdonald. who was fifty-eight years of age. had not been in. the best of health for some time and had been receiving medical attention. )lr and )Irs )lacdonald were in the habit of visiting a spot near where the fatality— occurred and having lunch there. )lrs Biacdonald was a. daughter of the late George Gould. and a sister of )lr. George Gould. of the firm of Pyne, Gould. Guinness. Ltd. She was highly esteemed for her excellent personal qualities by a very wide circle of friends. THE INQUIET. An inquest was held by Mr H. Y. “'iddowson, District Coroner, in the afternoon. Dr C. H. Gould. nephew of the doceased. said that he- had seen her every wool: during, the past two or three years. She generally enjoyed good health. but. on one or two occasions suffered from nerves. She had an attack recently. but there waS‘no indication: that she would attempt to take her own life. He never had heard her say or hint- at anything in that direction. Ranald )lacintosh )iacdonald, husband of the deceased. said that there were four children alive. He saw the deccascd on the Sumner tramcar yesterday at 11.43 a.m. in Cathedral Square. He promised to join her at 2.30 79.111 at Scarborough Road. Sumner. Ho motored to Sumner in the afternoon and went up to Scarborough Road twicc. He (lid not know of any friends she had there. but the appointment was made because the place was at the end of the motor road. He telephoned to his house to see if she was home. He then communicated with. (i'iulstalilr‘ Hampton. They walked together up the hill as near the clifi d 3 possible. They found her handbag and. nearer tlrl erlcc her umbrella. She. had. taken lunch with her and it had been catcn. A search for the body was unsuccessful. She had suffered from bad attacks of giddiness (luring the past fmv weeks; she had suffered from that. off and on for several years. She had: a very bml night on Thursday. Two (lays ago. while walking on Dver’s Pan Road. she fell down. presumably from giddiness. She never said that she was tired of life. She was of a. cheerful disposition. but was very deaf. She was fifty~eight years of ago. Dr John Guthrie said that he had .it—tonded the deceased about ten days ago. She. was suffering from nervousness. and was not sleeping very well. She spoke of some attacks of giddinesa, which easily could be. accounted for by sclarotic changes in the ear in connec—tion with her deafness. He treated her for the last time on )[onday last. Shc then had considerably improved. it would he dwngerous for any person who had attacks of vertigo to go near any cliff. There was no apprehension whatever that she was likely to take her own lifc. She always was very animated and cheerful. It was dangerous {or anv woman to walk about near those cliffs. much more so for nwoman in the deccased’s condition. He certainly “ould say that the fall was accitleutal. Unstable YV. J. Hampton. Sumner, said that the handbag was found about 4ft from tho edge. and the umbrella a little nearer the edge. He organised a. scorch party. which went. out. in a boat the same day. Owing to the high tide and the darkness, the search had to be abandoned. but it was resumed by the same party at 7.30 a.m. today. and the l‘otlv was found at the bottom of Scarborough Clifl’, close in. Tho cliff was about 300“ high. The body had been in the water at high tide. The deceased evidently struck rocks all the way in falling, and easily could hare been killed before she reached the bottom. The Coroner said that the case was a very sad one. He returned the following verdict: “That the deceased died. onl‘lay 12. 1922, on Scarborough Clifis, Sumner. the cause of death being severe and extensive injuries sustained through accidentally falling down the said clff: "