A WOMAN'S SAD END.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9057, 17 February 1908, Page 6

A WOMAN'S SAD END.

DROWNS HERSELF IN THE WAIPOUA RIVER.

HER INFANT CHILD MISSING

On Saturday morning early infor- j mation was received by Sergeant Miller, of the Masterton Police that J the body of a woman was lying in the Waipoua River, behind the cemetery. It proved to be that of a woman named Henrietta Pfahlert, about thirfc'i -five years of age, who had been employed at various hotels in Masterton during the past three months in the capacity of laundress. The evening previous considerable concern was shown by her friends as to her whereabouts, as it was suspected that she might do something desperate, on account of her being apparently in trouble, although she denied it stoutly. As she returned to her lodging 3 after a search had been made for her, no further suspicions were aroused as to her probable actions. Unfortunately, after being delivered of a child at some place, so far unascertained, theun-i fortunate woman who, it appears, v made away with the newly-born infant prior'to returning to her lodgings/drowned herself in the Waipoua River early on Saturday morning. The body of the infant has not been discovered.

CORONER'S INQUEST

VERDICT OF TEMPORARY

INSANIiY,

An inquest was held, before Mr W. P. James, S.M., District Coroner, at the Csurthouse, yesterday morning, the following imposing tne jury:—Messrs Eli Smith (foreman), Walter Clarke, A. P. Fielding, Martin Andrew, H. E. Gardner, and William Gillespie. After the jury had viewed the body, the police called Isabella Douglas, barmaid at the Prince of Wales Hotel, who deposed that she knew the deceased, whom she knew by the name of "Ettie," ever since witness was a child. Deceased would be about thirty-six years of ago, and came to live at Masterton some time in November last. Witness had seen deceased occasionally since, and on the 14th inst. procured her a situation at the Prince of Wales Hotel as laundress. Deceased started work a little after eight in the morning, finishing at about 6.15 p.m., when she appeared to be ill. Witness invited her to go to her (witness's) bed, as deceased was not to lodge at the hotel. Witness then brought her a cup of tea, and on asking her whether she was in any trouble, and if so offering to assist her with money, deceased several times denied it. About seven o'clock deceased left the hotel. She appeared to be in pain at first, but became, very quiet afterwards. Deceased said nothing about where she was going when she left the hotel. Witness had a suspicion that deceased was in trouble, and sent round to ask at Mr W. D. Ayson's shop if deceased had gone home. A reply was received in the negative, and witness was permitted to go off duty to inquire if she had arrived at her lodgings. She had not done so, and the police and others commenced a search in the Park and elsewhere. Deceased eventually arrived at her lodgings at 8.45 p.m. Madge Nancekivell, waitress at W. D. Ayson's restaurant, deposed to having known deceased by sight all her life. About ten months ago witness saw her at Reefton. Whilst in Masterton witness received a letter from deceased from Nelson, where the latter had gone to work, asking witness to procure her a situation. Witness answered the letter and deceased came to Masterton in November to work at the Empire Hotel. Djceasecl had since worked at other hotels in Masterton, and at the Taueru Hotel. Deceased heard of her father's death recently, and then came to lodge at Mr Ayson's, where she stayed until the 14th inst. On that day deceased went to work at the Prince of Wales Hotel. Witness did not arrive home irom work until about one o'clock on the morning of the 15th inst., when deceased was in bed, Apparently asleep. Witness retired to sleep, seeing nothing suspicious about the room. Did not know of deceased's being missing for a time the previous svening nor of the search conducted by the police. Witness suspected deceased was in trouble, and asked her if such was the, case, but deceased indignantly denied it. Witness offered to assist her if she needed it, but deceased replied that she wanted no assistance as there was nothing the matter with her.

Dr. Archer Hosking stated that he was called to the morgue at 8 o'clock onSaturday morning.where deceased's body was lying. After examination witness ascertained that deceased had given birth to a child. She had been dead some hours, and had apparently been drowned. Deceased would naturally suffer violent excitement. There were no marks of external injuries about the body.

Catherine Ayson, wife of W. D. Ayson, sworn, said she had known deceased all her life. Deceased worked at different hotels, and on the 25th January came back from the Taueru Hotel and stayed at witness' house ever since. On>the evening of the 14th inst deceased returned lior.ie from her employment and said she had been ill all day- Witness gave deceased to understand on various occasions that she would assist anyone in trouble if they needed it, but deceased replied that she was not in trouble. Witness did not like to accuse her straight out, but on the evening of the 14th witness spoke again about it and she again positively denied it. Witness brought deceased a cup of cocoa at about 11.30 o'clock, when she appeared to have no sign of pain. Witness heard nothing about deceased's disappearance until the constable arrived next murning.

By a juror: Witness had never seen deceased in the company of any strange person. JBy the Coroner: Deceased was not, to witness' knowledge, in communication with any one person except her sister. Deceased appeared to have felt acutely the death of her father. She was staying at witness' house without payment for board until she could obtain a situation.

Alfred Davidson, a lad of eleven years of age, whose parents reside in Miriam Street, deposed to finding

deceased's body in the Waipoua River at the rear of the cemetery on Saturday morning, at about 6.30 o'clock. Witness went straight away across the Park and informed a man named McKenzie of what he had seen.

Sergeant Miller's depositions were to the effect that he was informed of the occurrence at 6.45 o'clock on Saturday morning. The water in which deceased's body was lying was some three and a half feet deep. Deceased was clad only in a nightdress and stockings. A young man named McKenzie brought the body to the bank and it was found to be quite cold. A jacket and black dress were found on the river bank, and a man's hat, also a blood-stained pillowslip. Search had been made around the Park, the Prince of Wales Hotel, and Mr Ayson's for the child, but without success.

This was the evidence, and the Coroner, in commenting upon it. said that the jury should have no difficulty in coming to a correct conclusion as to the cause of death. Deceased had been delivered of a child, and after having disponed of it in some way, not knowing what the ultimate consequences might be, committed suicide. He considered that the action of Mrs Ayson, Miss Nancekivell, and Miss Douglas in offering to assist a woman in deceased's position was very commendable indeed, and it was unfortunate that the deceased did not avail herself of their proffered kindness.

A verdict was returned that deceased came by her death through drowning herself whilst temporarily insane. A rider was added commending the action of deceased's friends in offering to assist her.