SUICIDE IN BACK-BLOCKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 56, 27 June 1914, Page 6

SUICIDE IN BACK-BLOCKS.

A MOTHER'S TROUBLE. [Pub Peers Amooiatiqn.j Wanganui, June 2G. A sad tragedy occurred this afternoon at Petangi. a newly-opened-up back-blocks settlement 37 miles up the Wanganui river, and two miles back from the waterway. Mrs Sarah Mimi Smytu, aged 37, wife of a settler, had been acting peculiarly since her last child was born, about three mouths ago. Four of her little children are suffering from whooping-* cough, and Mrs Smyth brought her two-year-old child into the hospital a few days ago, and the doctor, noticing the condition of the woman, notified the policy. Two constables and a matron "went to Petangi to-day. Mrs Smyth at first refused to go to "Wanganui, but eventually decided to go conditionally on the matron taking charge of the baby. She ssked permission to go into a bedroom to dress, and the officers remained outside, telling Mr Smyth to watch his wife. He went into the bedroomj hut at his wife's request went out. She followed him, and immediately cried, *Tve done it!" at the same time throwing a bottle to the floor. The woman became unconscious, and passed away two hours later when being carried to the launch.