MARRIED WOMAN’S DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1921, Page 4

MARRIED WOMAN’S DEATH.

BODY FOUND ON BEACH. THE INQUEST TO-DAY. The body of a young married woman, Ethel May Panckhurst, who was about 32 years of age, was found on the beach at New Plymouth about 150 yards to the westward of Belt Road, in the eany hours of yesterday morning. She was residing with her husband. Mr. W IL Panckhurst, of Hine Street, and was last seen at home by her eleven-year-old son, Raymond. In a statement to the police, Mr. Panckhurst said he and his wife had been for a walk early on Sunday evening, and intended to call at Mr. Blanchard’s, but whilj out his wife said she wanted to see the Rev. W. J. Elliott, who was preaching at the St. Aubyn Oiurch, after church came out. She left her husband for this purpose, and Mr. Panckhurst went to’ Blanchard’s, explaining the reason for his wife not coming, but exps-'* : i g sin would folk w him. As she did not come, he went back to his home, and his little boy said his mother had come in a little while before and gone out again almost immediately. Panckhurst walked round the block and then went to Blanchard’s again to see if his wife had called. Be also found that she had not seen the Rev. Elliott, and sh<? had not been there. Mrs. Blanchard went to stay with Mr. Panckhurst’s children, and the two men, in company with a Mr. Robson, .went in search of Mrs. Panckhurst. Vera Panckhurst, daughter of the deceased, told her father that she thought her mother had taken a bottle of iodine from the bedroom before she went out the second time. Panckhurst informed the police a little after midnight that his wife had been missing since about eight o'clock. The search was continued, and ultimately the body was found on the beach as stated. It was almost covered with sand, and was fully clothed with the exception of a hat. About six weeks ago his wife drunk some iodine, but he took her to Dr. Wade, by whop she was successfully treated. When the body was found, the police - and a doctor were telephoned for. The body was removed to the morgue under police supervision. An examination disclosed no marks of violence, though there were some abrasions on the legs, such as might have been the result of contact with the rocks on the beach. An inquest will be opened to-day, at 10 a.m.