HAMILTON TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2415, 8 April 1922, Page 2

HAMILTON TRAGEDY.

MISSING WOMAN’S BODY RECOVERED.

Hamilton, Yesterday. The body of Xellie Wood was found yesterday in the ruins of the Hamilton Hotel fire a few feet in front of the kitchen liveplace. Deconsed’s room was over the kitchen. At the inquest last night it was shown that deceased was a married woman, having married Herbert Partridge, an engineer at Frankton, in December last. Herbert Partridge, in his evidence, said that he married Nellie Wood in December, 1921. Owing to hotelkeepers not caring to employ married women, it was arranged that she should seek employment as a single woman under her maiden name. She joined the hotel staff a month ago. They agreed each to work in order that they could save enough to go to Australia, where his wife had worked previously. They were on good terms, and he lmd seen her practically every day since she had been in Hamilton. On Sunday night witness left her about 9 p.m., and had not seen her since. She had an upper set of false teeth, and he believed she had a lower set. The brooch (produced) found near the body was her brooch. The Coroner said lie was satisfied the remains were those of Nellie Partridge. She apparently went hack to her room for something, and was overcome by the flames. He found that she was accidentally burned to death.