A MYSTERY SOLVED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1682, 5 January 1888, Page 3

A MYSTERY SOLVED.

A few weeks ago a local appeared in these columns stating that Detective Kirby was in Geraldine making enquiries about an old lady named Mrs Kent, who had left her home in Sandietown, Timaru, some months previously without leaving any clue as to her destination, The detective’s inquiries in this and other quarters were unsuccessful, and at last it was concluded that Mrs Kent had left the colony for the Old Country, as a steamer bound thither left about the time of her disappearance. All doubt as to the fate of Mrs Kent is now set at rest by the following extract from the Melbourne Catholic Advocate, which was handed to the Timaru Mail by Father Foley : - “It was reported to the St. Kilda police on Thursday afternoon by the residents of Nightingale street, Baiaclava, that an old woman named Mary Elizabeth Kent, 60 years of age, a resident of that street, had not been seen by anyone for several weeks. On removing the blinds SeniorConstable M'Evoy saw the dead body of the woman in a kneeling position by the side of a stretcher, the only furniture in the house. Her hands, which clasped a rosary as if she had been in the act of prayer, were folded, and the body partially undressed. The body was much decomposed, death having apparently taken place about twelve days ago. No food was found in the house, nor were there any signs of struggling. The deceased took the .house in July last from Mr Kelly, of High street, under the name of Mary Hamman, and had paid rent up to 28th November. When the collector called later on he got no reply to his repeated knocks. In a portmanteau were papers showing that her maiden name was Mary Hamman, that she was married to William Kent, at Brighton, England, on the 12th February, 1864, and obtained a protection order in February, 1873, at Timaru, New Zealand. A purse containing 12s Id, and a will bequeathing her properly to H. E. Kent, of Timaru, with a small annuity to the Roman Catholic Bishop of that diocese, were also found in her possession. An inquest will be held.”