Margaret Moss, 1890-21/11/1920. "fears are entertained"

The police have received information that Mrs Margaret Moss, wife of Mr Cornelius Moss, engineer, of North-east Valley, is missing, and that fears are entertained for her safety. Mrs Moss, who has been undergoing treatment for depression following on illness, left the house of a relative in Harrow street yesterday. She is about 30 years of age, thin build and, features, fair, slightly tanned complexion, blue eyes, and speaks with a Scottish accent. She wore a brown tweed costume, brown velour hat, and black shoes. She was supposed to have been seen in the vicinity of the reclaimed ground about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon.  -Evening Star, 17/11/1920.

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS.

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. The body of Mrs Margaret Moss was found at the foot of a cliff at Tomahawk Head. The deceased was the wife of Cornelius Moss, engineer. She was aged 30 years, and had been undergoing treatment for depression following an illness.   -Ashburton Guardian, 22/11/1920.

DEATHS.

MOSS. — At Dunedin, Margaret Moss (late Stronsay, Orkney Islands, Scotland), the beloved wife of Cornelius M. Moss, of 1 Ainstee place, North-east Valley; aged 30 years. Deeply regretted. Private interment. — Hope and Kinaston, undertakers.  -Evening Star, 22/11/1920.

A SHOCKING DEATH

WOMAN FALLS OVER A CLIFF.

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., held an inquiry yesterday into the death of Margaret Moss, whose body was found at Tomahawk, at the foot of Lawyer's Head, on Sunday afternoon. Deceased had been missing from her home since last Tuesday. On Saturday a young man found a lady's jersey and hat on the Head, on a steep sand slope, above a fall of 100ft or more to the sea, and the body was recovered with a rope by a search party the next day. 

Sergeant Murray represented the police at the inquest. 

Deceased's husband, Cornelius Moss, an engineer, residing at North-East Valley, said his wife was 30 years old. They had been married four years and four months. In August last his wife gave birth to a child that was prematurely born. For a while she seemed to be doing well, but a fortnight later she appeared to become very depressed. Dr Ross attended her, and warned witness that he would have to take good care of her. Witness last saw his wife on Tuesday morning. She had gone to stay with his mother for a while. Her condition then was very good, and she spoke of returning home. 

Dr Ross gave evidence that when he was attending deceased she was looking very depressed and aneamic. Witness warned her husband that persons in that state were apt to do harm to themselves, and suggested that she should be sent to a mental hospital. Witness added that, as deceased did not get on well at the convalescent home at Warrington, he strongly advised her husband to take her up to Seacliff. Two days after he got a telephone message to go to Mr Moss's house, but when he arrived Mr Moss was surprised to see him, and said his wife was quite well. 

Phoebe Moss, deceased's mother-in-law, said deceased seemed to get on all right while she was staying with witness, and appeared to relish her food. She was quiet and a little depressed. On Tuesday morning deceased left witness's house to do some shopping, intending to return for the keys of her own home. That was the last time witness had seen her. 

Arthur Evans, medical student, gave evidence as to finding the hat and jersey produced on Lawyer's Head on Saturday afternoon.

Chas. Wm. Ingram, fireman, who recovered the body, said he found it lying face down, with the right hand under the chest. The left arm was pointing outwards. The left leg was lying straight out, and the right leg over it, at right angles. The body was lying on a ledge, and the water was several feet below. Witness did not think the body had been under water at any time. The clothing was not wet when he found it.

Constable Coppell said he went with Evans on Saturday to the spot where he found the clothes, but could not find any sign of the body. The clothing was identified that evening by deceased's husband. While searching on Sunday afternoon, witness discovered the body directly below the spot where the clothing was found. The witness Ingram was lowered with a rope, and the body drawn up to the top. The face was mutilated, and the jaws broken. Witness proceeded to describe the injuries, stating that the unfortunate woman's neck was dislocated, and both legs and her right arm fractured. From the edge of the cliff to the sea was about 130ft to 150ft, and the body was lying 14ft from the edge, on a steep sand slope. It was a dangerous place, and people generally passed higher up. It would be quite possible for a person to slip over the cliff while sitting on the slope.

The Coroner found that death was due to injuries received by falling over a cliff at Lawyer's Head. The evidence was not sufficient to show if it was an accidental fall, or if deceased deliberately threw herself over while suffering from mental depression. He added that it was unfortunate deceased's husband had not been guided by the advice of Dr Ross.  -Otago Daily Times, 23/11/1920.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.