GIRL FOUND DEAD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 155, 19 July 1937, Page 6

GIRL FOUND DEAD

Apparently Overcome by Gas Fumes • v * COLLAPSE AFTER BATH. Under circumstances that point to poisoning, the body of Miss Joan Kane, aged 17 years, a domestie servant, was found by s Napier solicitor, Mr H. C. Sproule, at his residenee in Seapoint rord, Napier, shortly before 11 o'cloek on Saturday night. Ma- Sproule, who had been out in the carly part of the evening, returned kome at 10.45 o'cloek and noticed the bathroom light burning. He ascertained that his wife was in bed and upon xeceiving no reply to his calis at the door of Miss Kane's room, he assumed she was asleep. He thereupon entered the bathroom with the lntention of switehing off the light. Upon openjng the door he saw tlie body of Miss Kane lyong on the floor near the bath, as though she had collapsed. Earlier in the evening Mrs Sproule, upon learning that Miss Kane inteuded to have a bath, had suggested that the latter use the gas califont to heat the water. Shortly after 9 o'cloek Mrs Spioule saw the girl enter the bathroom with a box of matches in her hand. Mrs Sproule then • went to hed and shortly afterwards to sleep, and win not aware of the death of Miss Kane until informed by her husband. A curious feature is that when Mx Sproule arrived on the scene there wai: no smell of escaping gas, the supply to the califont having been cut-olf, l.hough the window and door wero boili closed but neither locked. Dr, T. Gilray, when called, could onjy pronounce life extinct. \esterday morning a post-morteiii examination was conducted by Dr. G. E, \\ aterworth. At the inquest which was opened by the district coroner, Mr. J, Miiler, S.M., the only evidence given was that of identification by the girl father, Mr. Joseph M. Kane, Peddit street, - Taradale. The inquest waS then adjourned sine die.