Sad Suicide.

Manawatu Herald, 25 March 1902, Page 2

Sad Suicide.

A YOUNG WOMAN DROWNS HERSELF IN THE RIVER. A Wanganui paper says:—Early yesterday morning (Sunday) the Wanganui police were informed that a young woman named Hilda Campbell, a domestic servant in the employ of Mr Wakeman, hotel broker, had mysteriously disappeared. Sergeant Norwood at once proceeded to Mr Wakeman’s residence on the River Bank and made inquiries. It appears that at about 6.30 Mr Wakeman saw his little children standing at his bedroom door, and on asking them what they wero doing received a reply that “ the lady " (meaning the servant), had gone ‘ tata ’ to buy some lollies." Not understanding what was meant Mrs Wakeman went into the girl’s room and found that the bed had not been slept in. There was no trace of the girl, but a letter was found on the table. On the letter being read it was learned that the girl intended to drown herself in the river, and that a love affair was the cause. On Sergeant Norward arriving, he found that the girl had left her boots in her bedroom, and on examining the ground in the vicinity of the house found the prints

of bare feet. These on bein ' followed led to the river bank, just at the bottom of Sydney Place. A boat and grappling irons were procured, and after' some time Sergeant Norwood, Detective Bishop, and Mr Alf. Gray picked up the body of the unfortunate woman. The body, which had been in the water about three hours, was fully dressed, with the exception of boots, and round the neck a pair of flat irons had been tied. The deceased who was about 30 years of age, was a daughter of Mr Campbell, painter, of Marton. She was wellknown in_ Wanganui, but had lately beeia living in Auckland. She only returned to Wan* ganui a few weeks ago.