HAPPY GIRL MYSTERY

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

HAPPY GIRL MYSTERY

The mysterious death of Miss Edith Maud Stone, 22, daughter of a ooiUer of Pontnewynydd, South Wales and recently in domestic service at Lo-wer Addiscombe-road, Croydon, was the subject of a coroner’s Inquiry. Mr H. B. Featherstone appeared for deceased's employer, Mr Joseph Leppard, a wine and spirit merchant, and Mr Percival Clarke represented Messrs Boots, the chemists. —Mrs Emily Stone, mother of the girl, related that her daughter had been axyay from home for four years, but witness saw her frequently. She was always ■ bright and-happy and wrote “trie most beautiful letters in the world." On December 27 Mrs Stone had a message from her daughter’s employer, and travelled to Croydon, where she was told by Mrs Leppard that the girl was suffering from disinfectant poisoning. She saw her in hospital next day, and deceased then was conscious, sensible and rational. Sbe denied having any trouble, and declared that because she had a nasty taste in her mouth she bought some mouthwash from Messrs Boots. When she was gargling with this she felt an excruciating pain. Mrs Stone admitted that twelve months ago de-

Dismfectant Used as Mouth-wash.

ceased was keeping company with a cousin, Johnny Fisher, and witness was instrumental In breaking off the association, but Edith did not appear to grieve over - it- Mrs 'Lily Mabel Leppard, wife of (Miss Stone's employer, gave evidence that on Boxing Day, which was deceased’s birthday, she had two girl friends to tea, and witness afterwards gave her some money to go to the pictures. The following morning deceased did not rise as usual, and witness going to her room found her “making perfectly horrible noises.” The walls and floor of her room were covered with disinfectant. Later, in hospital, deceased emphatically denied 'that she was in any trouble, and explained that a mouthwash she had used “had hurt her horribly.” Mrs Leppard searched deceased's room and found an empty bottle, tightly corked, on the dress-ing-table and a glass under the bed. The inquiry was adjourned until January IS, and Mr Percival Clarke, with the permission of the coroner, made a statement to the effect that an employee of the faun of chemists would say definitely that deceased asked for a disinfectant and refused to be put off with ordinary mouth-wash.