SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1922, Page 4

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

WOMAN AND CHILD KILLED. MURDER AND SUICIDE. LETTER WRITTEN TO CORONER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A* shocking tragedy .occurred a few minutes after noon to-day at the Strand Arcade, Miss Ina Mary Nalder aged 25, a clerk in the Pacific Cable" Board office, hurling a four-year-old girl over the balustrade on the top floor and then jumping tx> her death 70 feet below. • The child, Betty Nalder, was an adopted daughter of the woman’s mother, who died about a year ago. Upon her mother’s death Miss Nalder; took upon herself the duty of looking after th" child, to whom she wa® greatly attached. The child was being treated at the hospital for a brokeix arm, ajid Miss Nalder took her out for the day. At an inquest the following letter* written by deceased to the Coroner, which was found in her handbag, was read: “This is to state I am so unhappy* I cannot live any longer. I am not of temporary unsound mind, as the papers are always in the habit of saying. I wish my money, vie., £ 1000, invested with a firm in Nelson, and approximately £l5O in the Auckland Savings Bank, as well as any salary due to me, to go to thd Auckland Hospital. “None of my relatives have evef cared for me or taken any interest in me, therefore they have no right to my money. I do not wish any of them to come near my remains or. take any interest in the affair what* ever. No one will miss me.” A witness produced a letter written' to hie daughter and received at noon that day, too late to avert the tragedy, though the police and the cable board staff telephoned immediately. The letter stated that Miss Nalder felt keenly that a friend of hers became engaged to another girl, and she had nothing to live for. She indicated her intention of committing auicide, taking the child Betty with her. The Coroner returned a verdict to the effect that the deed, was done wiriU deceased was of unsound mind. A young woman employed in a shop in the Arcade had a narrow escape from injury. She was buttoning gloves on her outstretched hand and the enud struck her hand, falling at her feet. Before she recovered from the shock the woman’s body fell a few feet%awa.y<|