A Sad Tragedy

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 32, 27 June 1914, Page 5

A Sad Tragedy

YOUNG MOTHER COMMITS SUICIDE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. A sad tragedy occurred this afternoon at Petangi, a newly-opened-up backblocks settlement 37 miles up the Wanganui river, and two miles back from the waterway. Mrs. Sarah Mimi Smyth, aged 37, wife of a settler, had been acting peculiarly since her last child was born, about three months ago. Four of her little children are suffering from whooping-cough, and Mrs. Smyth brought her two-year-old child into the hospital a few days ago, and the doctor, noticing the condition of the woman, notified the police. Two constables and a matron went to Petangi to-day. Mrs. Smyth at .first refused to go to Wanganui, but eventually decided to go conditionally on the matron taking charge of the baby. She asked permission to go into a bedroom to dress, and the officers remained outside, telling Mr, Smyth to watch his wife. He went into the bedroom, but at his wife's request went out. She followed him, and immediately cried, "I've done it!" at the same time throwing a bottle to the floor. The woman became unconscious, and passed away two hours later when being carried to the launch.