A SAD OCCURRENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10089, 12 September 1910, Page 5

A SAD OCCURRENCE.

YOUNG LADY DKOWNED IN LAtfSDOWNE LAKE.

The circumstance surrounding the death of Miss Bessie Maud Bunny, which occurred near Masterton on Friday evening, are particularly painful and tragic. Some months ago Miss Bunny, who was a daughj ter of the late Mr Henry Bunny, barrister, of Wellington, and was forty-two years of age, suffered a severe disappointment, and she became melancholy and depressed. On Friday afternoon, about 4.30, she left her home at Lansdowne and called upon Mrs 0. Smith, a neighbour. She seemed to be considerably agitated, and, after leavin? a letter and parcel, which she asked should be delivered to Mrs W. J. llirachberg after seven o'clock, she left, bidding Mfs Smith "Good bye " Aa she had not returned to her horn 3 at seven o'clock, ani letters werj found which indicated her intention of acting desperately, her friends became alarmed, the police were communicated with, and a search cf the lake was made. No trace of the missing lady could, however, b found that evening. E*rly on Saturday morning Messrs Oliver Bunry, brother of the lady, and 0 Smith, continued the search, when the body was fcund floating face downward in about twelve feet of water. It was immediately taken from the water and removed to the family residence at Lansdowne. The body was iully clotted, even to a hat and vtil. On one hand there were two gloves~a black and a white—and on he other a white one. The parcel left for Mrs Hirschberg contained two bangles and a brooch, which the deceased asked should be worn for her sake, and several letters addressed to friends were of a pathetic charaeter. An inquest into the circumstance s attending the death was held on Saturday morning, before Mr E. U. Eton, J.P., and a jury, of which Mr Eli Smith was foreman. After hearing the evidence of several witnesses, tne jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane."