Mary Scott, (1888-10/1/1914). "found on the ground"

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS

Dear Dot, — I am in the Second Standard, but I am not very good at writing. My father gave me a doll for passing. I should like to see my letter in the Witness, and I am going to send it to grandmother. I sent one before, and she said it was a very nice letter for a little girl like me. We have two miles to walk to school. Dear Dot, I would like to see all the little girls and boys in the kindergarten schools. I got 6d from mother, and I will send it to the little girls' school fund. Will you please give me a very nice name for my dolly.— Yours truly, Mary Scott.

Gimmerburn, December 1.  

[There, Mary, your grandmother will be able to read your second letter in print, and I think she will again say that it is very good for a little girl like you. How would you like Queenie for dolly's name? Thank you for the stamps; if you come to town at any time you could go and see the little folks of the kindergarten — Dot.]  -Otago Witness, 10/12/1896.

DEATHS

SCOTT. — At Christchurch, on January 10, Mary, dearly beloved daughter of James and Mary Scott, Gimmerbum, Central Otago; in her twenty-fifth year, “Peace, perfect peace.”  -Otago Witness, 14/1/1914. 

OBITUARY.

(Mt. Ida Chronicle.) The following paragraphs from the daily papers refer to a daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Scott, of Gimmerburn: 

Christchurch, January 11. A young woman named Mary Scott, 24 years of age, and a school teacher at Charlton, Banks Peninsula, was admitted to the Alexandra Private Hospital, Ferry road, on January 8, suffering from blood poisoning, and was operated on. She progressed satisfactorily but early last night she was found on the ground at the back of the hospital, having jumped out of her window. Her skull was fractured, and death must have been almost instantaneous. A post mortem examination showed deceased to have been suffering from meningitis. 

Christchurch, January 12. An inquest was held this afternoon on the body of Mary Scott, a school teacher resident at Charlton, Banks Peninsula, who fell out of a window at the Alexandra Hospital, in Perry road, on Saturday evening, and died shortly afterwards. A verdict was returned that "Deceased committed suicide by throwing herself from the window while in an unsound state of mind." The coroner added that he was satisfied that every care had been taken of the deceased at the hospital, and that her death was in no way due to lack of attention there. 

The funeral took place at Gimmerburn on Wednesday afternoon last. The deepest sympathy of friends and neighbors is extended to the relatives in their sudden and unfortunate bereavement. 

The deceased lady was a sister of Mr Geo Scott of Chasm Creek, Bald Hill Flat.  -Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 21/1/1914.

The Christchurch "Press" mentions that Mary was admitted with peritonitis, instead of - or perhaps as well as - blood poisoning. It goes on to say that "an operation was performed." I suspect that she was admitted for complications resulting from an illegal abortion.  I have nothing but my suspicions to justify this.

Gimmerburn Cemetery.