TRAGIC DISCOVERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 784, 3 October 1929, Page 1

TRAGIC DISCOVERY

BOY SEES MOTHER’S BODY THROUGH WINDOW

WOMAN’S SUICIDE

Climbing a ladder to peer through the window of a looked wash-house yesterday afternoon, a schoolboy saw his mother lying dead inside. The body was supported on a chair with the head ■ lying on a table. AN inquest on tile death of Elizabeth Gillan, a widow aged 47, of 3S Ethel Street, Morningside, was held this morning before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when a verdict of suicide by gas poisoning was returned. It was stated in evidence that Mrs. Gillan was last seen alive by her 14-year-old son at breakfast, when sue had seemed in good health. The woman had been a voluntary patient in the Wolfe Home, from which she had returned five v/eeks ago. Sarah Walker Kinninmonth, a sister of Mrs. Gillan, said that she had lived with her for 13 years, since the death of Mr. Gillan. Witness Intended sailing for Sydney on Tuesday, and considered that her departure may have worried deceased. The woman’s son described the finding' of his mother’s body. He- had come home about 4 p.m. The wash-house was locked and there was a smell of gas, so he obtained a ladder and climbed up to look through the window. He had seen his mother sitting with a gas tube in her mouth, so went for assistance. Dr. A. Cumming had been called and gave it as his opinion that the woman had been dead about two hours. There was a note by deceased’s side, which commenced:—“Forgive me, but I can’t suffer any more.”