“DISGRACE TO CIVILISATION.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3809, 23 June 1928, Page 2

“DISGRACE TO CIVILISATION.”

CORONER'S COMM ENTS. Christchurch, .June 22. “During my somewhat lengthy experience of the weaknesses of human nature I have seldom met with a case of such callous indifference as has been revealed by the evidence which has been brought before me this morning, It has revealed a state of things that is a disgrace to our muchlwanted civilisation, and certainly a disgrace to the man Burgess, who has given evidence before me. It has revealed also a very bad state of immorality oil the part of Burgess and on the part of deceased, but I do not wish to make further reference to that.” These words were used this moriiiny by the Coroner, Mr. E. D. Mosley, when the inquest was concluded concerning the death of Emily Martha Forward, aged twen-ty-one, whose dead body was found in a bach, at 51 Bowhill Road, North Beach, on June 0. ,In returning a verdict of suicide by gas poisoning, the Coroner said that death took place on or about Mafc-h 23, approximately ten weeks before the body was discovered. The Coroner added : “The whole circumstances surrounding the death and the discovery of the- body are terrible in themselves, and sufficient to shoek the senses of any reputable cilizen, as were the circumstances surrounding the. whole affair.”