THE STARVATION DOCTOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 175, 23 January 1912, Page 5

THE STARVATION DOCTOR.

DEATH OF AN AUSTRALIAN GIRL. FURTHER DETAILS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 22, 9.35 p.m. . ■ Melbourne, January 22. The Williamsons mentioned in the starvation case are Victorian sisters, daughters of the late George Williamson, who left a large fortune. Dora Williamson, writing to a Melbourne friend in September, mentioned that a criminal suit was pending in connection with the death of her sister Claire, also civil suits for the recovery of monies paid to Mrs. Hazzard, and added that most people under Mrs. Hazzard's treatment were English or Australians, including Mr. Wakelin, of New Zealand. Mrs. Hazzard stated she had other patients from Sydney and New Zealand. ' Claire Williamson's executor recently departed for America to manage the affairs of the sisters. A previous wire stated:—A Mrs. Hazzard, who is known as tbe "Starvation Doctor," is being tried at Seattle for causing the death of a wealthy English girl named Claire Williamson. The girl's sister'testified "to the severity of the treatment at the sanatorium. She herself had been reduced almost to a 'releton, and her sister had died under treatment. The doctor called in had - > picions of foul play, and caused Mrs. ' ;zzard's arrest. John Herbert, an unile of the girls, declared that he believed the body lie saw in the coffin was not that of his niece. He made no complaint, because he knew the girl was actually dead. * , The. extraordinary experiences of the two sisters, Claire and Dora Williamson, caused a great sensation when first made public. Miss Dora Williamson, who narrowly escaped death with her sister, stated that they came under the influence of Linda Burfield Hazzard, a woman practising a 9 a physician in Seattle, Washington, whose specialty is fasting for the cure of diseases. It is said that the woman, having first made a careful inquiry into the financial means and comparatively friendless situation of the ladies, agreed that they should take a course of fasting to remedy certain ailments, and, after treating them to an isolated retreat in the woods of Olalla, Washington, where the treatment was continued until Miss Claire Williamson died on May 11th, 1911. Mls» Dora Williamson was reduced in weight to 421b., when an old nurse of the family named, Miss Margaret Coil way arrived from Australia and took charge of her. While the young women were under Mrs Hazzard she feceived money, some of which, the courts have since ordered to be returned to Miss Dora Williamson.