Sad End of an Eccentric Lady.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 216, 20 August 1887, Page 7

Sad End of an Eccentric Lady.

A lady, who was $7 years of age; Miss. Allan, of Wilton House, Darlington, hasjust died under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Mies Allan had long lived a solitary life, and had no intimate relations with the outside world. Her eccentricities were ' notorious, and. had been for many long years. One of her peculiarities was the maintenance of an extraordinary antique costume, which might have been fa&hionable when George 111. was king, but which certainly was not worn by any of her contemporaries. She also acqufred some degxee of notoriety by her highhanded manner in deciding disputes with a#entsi and others, which frequently brought her into the law courts. Her interests have been entrusted to a large number of lawyers. Living totally alone; her end has been as mysterious as her life*. On Tuesday morning, she was seen byMrs Ward, her occasional charwoman, apparently in her usual health- On the Wednesday and Thursday, no intelligence had been reported of her movements. On Friday a boy named Reed had occasion to call at Wilton House, but was unable U> gain admittance. He states, however, that he distinctly heard Miss Allan say, •'Come in." This was not an unusual occmence with the eccentric lady, but on the boy being again unsuccessful in teeing her on tne Saturday, and receiving no response to his knocking, the circumstances were reported te Mr Robinson, her lawyer, who pioceeded to the residence of his client. Entrance was effected by l,r*akingj open a window, when Miss Allan was found in her bedroom on the bed quite naked, airl in terrible agony from burns on her bieasfc and body, She has since died.