I rarely comment of stories such as the one here - what could I possibly add to them - but this has left me with immeasurable sadness for all involved. The Andersons' children, whose mother's loss might not have been fully disclosed to them for years after the event. George Anderson, whose return to a dark house at night led to the discovery of his wife's burned body. And poor Thomasina, whose fear was such that, before she died, she smashed the mirrors in her house. Maybe she thought that by removing the reflections she could remove what tormented her. Alas, it did not.
DEATHS
ANDERSON — On July 20, at her residence, District road, Ravensbourne. Thomasina, the beloved wife of George Anderson, aged 36 years. "So loved, to mourned." Private interment. — A. J. Wynn and Sons, undertakers. -Otago Daily Times, 22/7/1916.
A TRAGIC DEATH
A Married Woman's Mad Act
Shocking Affair at Ravensbourne
Sets Fire to Herself,
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
One evening last week, George Anderson returned from his work at Port Chalmers to his home at Ravensbourne. Ho found the house securely locked up, and had to get in through one of the windows. In the passage of the house he discovered his wife, Thomasina Anderson,
BURNED TO DEATH, only a few rags on the body remaining.
Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., presided at the inquest at Ravensbourne.
The husband of deceased, George Anderson, a carpenter stated that his wife was 36 years of age. They had been married for 18 years, and had five children. On January 20 deceased was committed to the Seacliff Mental Hospital, and was discharged therefrom about three weeks later. She returned home. She had had delusions that the house was affected with electricity and that people were talking about her. For some months after her return she seemed all right, doing her work as usual. Sometimes, however the old delusions would return. Recently she had said that the house was affected, and that people were trying to put her out of it. No doctor had seen her since she had been discharged from the mental hospital. Dr. Fitzgerald had attended her previously. She had never given any indication that she would do anything to herself, and up to the day of her death she had been going about her household duties regularly. Witness left for Port Chalmers at 7.15 a.m. Deceased got up and prepared the breakfast, and when he left she seemed to be in her usual health and spirits. There was no one in the house beside the children. Witness returned home about 9.50 p.m. — his usual time when working late. The house was locked up, with no light in it. He got in by the bedroom window and found his wife lying on the floor in the passage. She appeared to be dead, and there was a smell of burning.
An 11 year old son of the previous witness said that after having their mid-day meal he and the other children returned to school. On coming home again they found the door locked, and they went to the station to meet the Dunedin trains, expecting their mother by one of them.
"BUT MOTHER DID NOT COME."
Constable McKenzie said that he found deceased in the hall in a curled-up position. Her clothes were burned off, with the exception of some near her feet; the body and arms were badly burned. The trunk and extremities were quite cold and rigid. On removing the oilcloth he found that the oilcloth and door had been burned right through. Kerosene had been freely used. All the chair and the sofa in the front room had been saturated and set fire to. In the passage and near the body were parts of a big piece of paper; kerosene being again spilt all about the floors. The hallstand and looking-glass were smashed and bore hammer marks. He found in the kitchen the remains of two watches and a silver teapot that had been burned in the fireplace. The glass case at the side of the firepance was also smashed.
Dr. Fitzgerald said he saw deceased on December 9, and again on January 14 and January 20. At that time she was very much depressed in mind, and had several delusions. On January 20 he certified that she was of unsound mind, and she was committed to the mental hospital. He had not seen her since, and did not know of her having been discharged till her death was reported to him. He had examined the body, which was badly burned about the trunk, head and legs. Death resulted from shock due to burning. When he saw the deceased prior to going to the mental hospital there were no expressed suicidal tendencies; but, in such cases, there was always a potentiality. He had no doubt that the deceased was of unsound mind at the time of this occurrence. Suicidal impulses developed very rapidly in patients suffering as deceased did.
The coroner said it was
A VERY SAD CASE. What had occurred was obvious. He returned a verdict that death was due to shock, the result of burns, deceased being of unsound mind at the time.
An explanation of how the unfortunate woman came to be discharged from the mental hospital would be valuable. -NZ Truth, 29/7/1916.
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