A YOUNG GIRL’S DEATH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 9, 15 May 1913, Page 7

A YOUNG GIRL’S DEATH.

CORONER’S STRONG COMMENTS. At the inquest on the body of the girl Laura Alice Howard, who on the evening of April-18 died suddenly at idje home of her parents in Gladstone Street, Ballarat East, it was stated that, the girl, who was 17 years of age, was employed at the Ballarat Woollen Mills, and after tea on the evening in question she was seized with convulsions. Dr. Dane ,who was called in, refused to give a certificate as to the cause of death. On a postmortem examination being made by Dr. Mitchell symptoms of poisoning were detected. The police consequently forwarded the stomach of deceased to the Government Analyst for cxamination, with the result that traces of strychnine were discovered. After hearing evidence the deputy coroner said the • girl’s stepmother, Mrs Howard, seemed to be. a very heartless and cruel woman indeed. She told Detective Montague that she thought the girl died from Bright’s disease. If she said the. girl died of a broken heart she would be very much nearer the truth. At all events, she did enough to break the girl’s heart. She made up her mind to taunt the girl clay after day with being in a certain condition, and she cruelly told people outside the same thing. She cast the worst possible slur on a good girl. She said sho was the girl’s protector and friend, but heaven help girl’s with stepmothers who protectee! them in the same way. It was difficult to speak- too strongly of a jvoman who treated an unfortunate motherless girl, who appeared to be a good girl, in such a way. Whether the woman wanted the girl out. of the way he was not prepared to say. He the girl died from strychnine but that there was not sufmnent evidence to show who administered the poison.