"NOTHING TO LIVE FOR."

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1919, Page 3

"NOTHING TO LIVE FOR."

MRS. OOLVXLE'S DEATH, i _ At the inquest into • the drowning of Mrs. Olive M. P. Colvile, who was missed from the transport Oxfordshire while the vessel was lying at anchor in Rangitoto Channel at about -midnight o« the Ist inst., and whose body wafs found on tho Takapuna Beach at an early hour on the following Monday morning, before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., evidence was given by Mrs. Janet Peat, who said her daughter had never recovered from the loss of her husband and, although she was frequently cheerful, she always returned to a state of depression. In the opinion of the witness, although Mrs. Colvile was a broken-hearted woman, she was at all times perfectly sane. She had stated many times that she hated life, and Would welcome death in any form, but witness did not think at any time that she would take her own life. On the night of her disappearance she had left the cabin about 11.30 o'clock, but returned a few minutes later and sat down. She then said she was going back to the bathroom, and went out, saying good-night to Mrs. tPugh, a fellow passenger, as she passed the latter's cabin. As she did not return, witness and Mrs. Pugh went to look for her, and although they roused the third officer and had a thorough search made for her, she could not be found. Evidence waa given by Lieutenant P J. Shea, who said that Mrs. Colvile was continuously depressed during the greater part of the voyage, and was always talking of her husband, saying she had nothing left to live for. Mrs. Edith Pugh said that after the disappearance of Mrs. Colvile she went to the cabin occupied by Mrs. Peat and tho deceased, and found a letter left by Mrs. Colvile in a bag hanging on the wall. This letter began:— "I know you will forgive me, because you know and understand all." The letter was unaddressed and unsigned, arid had been placed in an unaddressed envelope. A verdict of suicide by drowning whilst in a state of mental depression was returned.