TRAGEDY AT THE BATHS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 278, 16 April 1913, Page 5

TRAGEDY AT THE BATHS.

ELTILVM RESIDENT'S SAD END.

Yesterday morning, Mrs. Mercy Melita

Agnes Halters de Launay, a resident «f Kltlian , walked into the Municipal Baths at New Plymouth, and held a short eon* versation with the caretaker, Mr. Morris. This was the last seen of her alive, for ton minutes later Mr. Morris was horrified to find her dead body floating in the baths.

The (U'ipils of this silent tragedy were subsequently relate/I to a News representative by the caretaker. Mrs. da Launay, it transpires, was staying at New Plymouth and undergoing a course of medical treatment, including massage and hot saltwater baths, at the direction of Dr. .Wleland. To this end she mads it a practice. to visit the public baths periodically. She had not been to them lately, and yesterday morning she. wended her way to the baths, signifying her intention to Mr. Morris of taking'a ! hot saltwater bath. The heating apparatus, however, was temporarily out of order at the time, and on learning this Mrs. De Launay asked and obtained" permission to take a walk around the swimming bath. Mr. Morris remained at this work in the boiler-house, and about ten minutes later had occasion to visit the baths for the purpose of 'obtaining a spanner. The first thing & noticed was. Mrs. de Launay's body floating in the water. He immediately removed the body from the water And made efforts to resuscitate life. He-per-sisted in his endeavors until the arrival of Dr. Home, who continued restise'tation for a further 20 minutes, but without avail. All that the doctor coul;? then do was to pronounce life extinct. From a cursory examination he formed the conclusion that the deceased lady had had a sudden seizure and fallen into the water. The body was conveyed to the morgue, pending an inquest at 10.30 a.m. to-dav.

When discovered by Mr. Morris, the deceased was fully dressed, and was wearing n linl, and "veil. Her overcoat was found lying several fefct away from the bath. At the time of the tragedy Mrs. Morris, wife of the caretaker, was working in a room opening directly fnto Hie baths, and Mrs. dp Launav could not have made any cry for help without being hoard. Mrs. Morris, however, heard nothing untoward, and this lends color to the suggestion that thai' deceased lady had had a sudden seizure* Mrs. de Launay was the wife of Mr.

Tlarry dc Launay, of EI thorn, and wag ■ aged about 30 years. She was stayingwith Mrs. H. R. Cattley. She informal! her hostess yesterday morning of her* intention to indulge hi a hot saltwater hath. Mr. Cattlev then informed her ■ that lie understood the hot hath was closed down for n. few days, and It Is presumed that Mrs. de Launay went down to the baths to make sure for her* self.