A DANNEVIRKE SENSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2792, 2 October 1924, Page 3

A DANNEVIRKE SENSATION.

YOUNT WOMAN’S TRAGIC DEATH. RESULT OF LOVERS’ QUARREL. } Miss Ida Jeanie Caff, aged 24 years, an assistant employed by Mr T. Prichard, dentist, in Ward St., Dannevirke, was found dead in the workroom on Monday in eireumsianees which indicated that death was not due to natural causes. Mr Frederick William Buzza, also in the employ of Mr Prichard, went upstairs at 9 a.m. on Monday and he noticed a strong smell of gas and on entering the workroom found that a gas jet on the work bench was turned on. He immediately turned it off, and a few minutes later, while operating a wheel, saw what appeared to be a boot protruding from underneath the bench. He looked underneath and saw the deceased, fully dressed, lying in a corner, with a rug wrapped round her and a rubber tube connected with the gas jet which he had previously turned off, lying alongside the body under the rug.

Dr. Dawson pronounced life extinct and intimated that the indications pointed to deceased having been dead for some hours. The deceased returned home the previous day for tea after work, and when she left early in the evening for town was then in unusually cheerful spirits. She had been an assistant in Mr Prichard’s surgery for about eight years, and took a very keen interest in her work. She was of a genial disposition, which won for her numerous friends. At the inquest Henry John Cuff, rabbit inspector, Mangatera, deposed that the deceased, his daughter, left home on Monday evening to meet Mr Tooiner. She was then ip, unusually good spirits and good health. She did not return home that evening. He had never heard deceased ever threaten to commit suicide and could not give any reason for having taken her life. The Coroner: “Were all anxious when she did not return home?” —No. She often stayed over night with her married sister in York St. “There was no family difference in any way?”—None whatever. My wife did not favour deceased’s keeping company with Mr- Toomer, but . so far as I know there was no row about it. A. H. Toomer, accountant employed by the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Cooperative Assn. Ltd., said that he knew the deceased, with whom he had been keeping company for about 20 to 22 months. He was not engaged to be married to deceased. About 7.30 on Monday night he met deceased in High St. north and they quietly walked to Swinburn St. Senior-Sergeant Harvey: “Were you friendly?”—We had a quarrel and we parted at Swinburn St. corner. She wanted to go to the pictures and I did not. Deceased proceeded along Swinburn St. past the Presbyterian Church and witness went along High St. and to the Dannevirke Club. About an hour later deceased rang witness up at the Dannevirke Club. Witness went and met deceased on the Queen St. side of the subway. She wanted to make it up and the quarrel started again. They were there five minutes and parted again. This interview would be between 9 and a quarter past nine o’clock.

Senior-Sergeant Harvey; “Did she say anything to you or- you say anything to fieri”: —Yes, she cornpained that 1 was not giving her the usual attention. I told her then that if she was not satisfied she had better get someone else. The Coroner: “What did she say then?” —We parted then, each saving good night.

i’lie Coroner; “Was this the first time you have quarrelled with deceased on the same thing i” —.No. There was no question of another girl being' in the case. After further evidence on similar lines had been given by Toomer the Coroner found: “That the deceased, Ida Jennie Cull, died at Mi' Prichard’s surgery, Ward St., Daunevirke, on the night of September 29th, that the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning, self-adminis-tered while m a state of severe mental depression, following on a quarrel with witness Toomer.”