AUCKLAND HOSPITAL TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 11 July 1910, Page 5

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL TRAGEDY

THE WORLD ''ROTTEN AND DARK." By Telegraph—Press Association. / Auckland, Saturday. At the inquest evidence showed that Mrs. Webster was violent when admitted to the asylum, and had delusions that people were after her. On one occasion she jumped out of a window anil ran up the street in night attire. Dr. Beattie, superintendent, stated that he did not believe Webster ever lived in New Zealand. He produced a letter written bv Jones in which he thanked Dr. Beattie for his kindness to Mrs. Webster, and asking him to look over wjiat the writer had done, which he thought was for the best. He alone was responsible; it destiny, and had to be done. Mrs. Webster was a sister of Lionel Terry. Her real name was De Thierry. Jones never showed signs of insanity, though he had eccentricities and at times .appeared at the asylum very drunk. Witness considered him sane. Mrs. Webster was bright and a great favorite, though feeble minded. Assistant-Matron Campbell said that both fell with a thud after taking the poison. Dr. McKelvey stated that both died together five minutes after'"taking the poison. He found two bottles, one smelling of prussic acid and the other of wine. Jones never showed signs of insanity. Two long letters, partly sane, part.lv rambling, from Jones were read, in which lie said death was preferable to a life of insanity. He had poisoned Mrs. Webster at her express wish. Two brief notes were produced, in which Mrs. Webster wrote it was her wish to die with Jones. She had asked him to help her, also she wanted her children to die and be buried with her. The letter concluded: "The world is too rotten and dark." ' The verdict was that deceased died of cyanide of potassium poison, administered by Jones.