WOMAN'S DEATH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 258, 23 June 1932, Page 5

WOMAN'S DEATH

(Press. Assn.—

sensational admissions in wellington suicide case SET FIRE TO HOUSE

-By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The circumstances of the death of Elizabeth Wilkie McCrae Strutli, widow, aged .51 years, were described at the inquest to-day at Petone. Early on the aftei'noon of June 15 she. was found dead in a paddock at Trentham, with a tin of disinfectant beside iaer. Detective McLennan said that on June 13 he had investigated the- setting on fire of a house at Trentham. Mrs Struth admitted that she had done it as she had a grievance against the woman who lived in it. She had a weak heart, and he decided not to arrest her, but to bring- her before the Coui't on summons. She seemed all right mentally and he had no idea that she would take her life. A daughter of deceased said her rnother never had good health. On June 14 her rnother went to Wellington, and at two o'clock the same day witness received by post a letter saying that she would be found in the harbour. Witness immediately reported to the police. That night her rnother arrived home at 11.40 wet to the knees. She explained that she had been sitting on the steps of the wharf. She went to bed, but at seven o'clock in the morhing she was missing. The bed was still warm. The inquest was adjourned for a post-mortem .examination.