A SAD ENDING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1921, Page 8

A SAD ENDING.

MISSING MATRON FOUND, BODY DISCOVERED HANGING FROM TREE. A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. ' The body of Miss Mary Lindsay (the matron of the Grey town Hospital, who has been missing for some days) was on Sunday found tn the scrub near Woodside, near Greytown. The unfortunate young woman had evidently ended her life while in a .state of mental depression. The body was found hanging from a cord from the dress-ing-gown which Miss Lindsay was wearing when she disappeared having evidently been used for the purpose. The disappearance of Miss Undsay, who had been suffering, from a nervous breakdown for some time, caused quite a sensation in the district, and the missing lady’s popularity was such that quite a gloom was cast oyer the community, while offers to organise and assist in searches came from every part of the district. CLAD ONLY IN NIGHT ATTIRE. ; Some little time back, it is stated, Miss Lindsay was on a month’s sick furlough. When she returned to the institution she was still far from well, and during the past fortnight was relieved of her duties owing to mental depression. During the past few days she had been kept under constant observation, her attendants being an aunt and a sister at the hospital. Shortly after 6 o’clock on Thursday evening Miss Lindsay, who is only 28 years of age, went to the bathroom adjoining her room. The sister gassed along the passage with the tea tray and saw the unfortunate young lady standing at the bathroom door. On the sister returning she ascertained from the aunt that Miss Lindsay had not put in an appearance. She had disappeared without the slightest warning, clad in a nightdress and dressing-gown, and wearing soft slippers. Immediate search was made about the building and grounds. As no trace could be found of her the police were communicated with and large search parties were organised, who scoured the country throughout the night in the immediate vicinity of the hospital. THE WORST FEARED. The night was bitterly cold and one of the heaviest frosts of the season was experienced, and the worst results werefeared on unfavorable reports being received from the searchers. Further parties were organised at daybreak, under the direction of the Mayor (Mr. W. A. Hutton) and a vigorous search for miles round was prosecuted throughout the day, without any trace being found of the missing woman. A little girl, nine years of age, reported that she saw the matron get into the back seat of a car, in which a man and woman were seated, and drive away in a northerly direction. The child, who knew the matron well, lutvihg at one time been an inmate at the hospital, could not be shaken in her story, though the time at which the mother says the child was out does not coincide with the time at which Miss Lindsay made her escape.

THE SEARCH CONTINUED. Mr. H. A. Green, secretary to the Hospital Board, spent the whole of Friday in the search, and, with the chairman (Mr. E. 0. Eton), prepared a plan of campaign for the search. Volunteers and cars assembled between 8 and 9 in the morning. The first party was to start at 8 o’clock, the object being to search on both sides of the road to Carterton. At the latter place another partv was formed, and both parties joined and proceeded to Greytown. The Masterton Harriers also took part in the search in the afternoon. Messrs J. T. Thompson and A. O. Considine assisted at Greytown, and Messrs. W. I’isher and T. V. Moore, all members of the board, at Carterton. The search was continued on Sunday, with the sad result as detailed above. Miss Lindsay qualified at Invercargill Hospital, passing the State examination in 1916. She proceeded to Greytown the following year, and did fine service during the epidemic. For some months before the death of the late matron (Miss McLean) she was actingmatron, and in September last she was appointed to the position.