SUICIDE BY FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 252, 17 October 1908, Page 6

SUICIDE BY FIRE.

A (cTiilile irnWliwl <# death w ; is chosen liv Jane; Klizabcth Kusscll, widow (iH yeare of age. who committed suicide at .Malvern (Vie.), a lew d.n's ago. She is believed to have poured a' hoUlc o£ kerosene over her hair mid cloln'ing. and (lieu deliberalelv set lire to hcr-elf. Mrs Jin-s,,|l was an old age l»'»*i' I'- and lived at .Malvern, where -he rented two looms from .Mrs Maiv 'llatherall. .Mr, llatherall stales that, she. noticed Mr, Kussell ill the van! 'belonging to the house. The old'woman's manlier seemed strange, and Mrs 'llatherall was about to speak to iter, when to liei- surprise Mrs Itussell was 'suddenly enveloped in flames, which appeared to come front her hair and clothing. After soliciting help from a neighbour. Mr, llatherall quickly obtained n lihinkef. with which she 'extinguished the Unifies, but not before -Mrs liusse'rl had been dreadfully burned about Hi;, body, and her clothing nearlv all cieiVuined. An empty bottle, which .had contained kerosene, was subsequently found in (he yard. 11 is surmised tha! -Mrs Ru-ell had poured the contents 'over her clothing :Ul d hair, and then applied » lighted ni<u.-li._ \o r,,„on h'.s have committed -uicid,. in ,„ dread/ill a. manner.