OPIUM VICTIM.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16426, 21 January 1919, Page 8

OPIUM VICTIM.

INQUEST ON ACTRESS.

(By Cable.—Pres= Association.—^ Copyright.) (Australian tnd Cabie Association.) LONDON. January 16. The inquest on the actress "Bilhe Carleton, who was found dea*l in a West End flat after a fancy dress ball, was resumed to-day. . .. Deveulle, in evidence, domed giving cocaine to the deceased. He first took cocaine in America, and then ceased until a few months ago, when he bought some from a Chinese woman and a him-, actor named Belcher. Witness denied evidence given by Miss Longfellow thai, ho entered Miss Carleton"# bedroom. He merely got his wifo s face powder and handed it round as a joke. The Coronw commented that this statement was very ingenious, but. unconvincing. , Dr. Stewart, recalled, replying to tlie Coroner said that Carleton told him that Jack Mnv taught her to smoke opium. -May is_an American who started Murray's Nisht Cluu, where the Taugo craze raged in 1913.

A. rno.v-njzo received last month stated —Sensational ovidonoe was given at the inquest on "Billie" Carleton, a well-known beauty and leading lady at the Havmarket Theatre, who was found dead in a flat in the Strand after a fancy dress bail at the Albert Hall. The evidence disclosed a remarkable habit\ in certain theatrical circfes, including "dope" parties, where opium and cocaine were dispensed, also visits to Limehouse opium dens. Billie Carleton obtained cocaine at a cost of £6 for a small packet worth 2s. Mrs Lo Ping, the English wife of a Chinaman, has been arrested. She cooked onium for "dope" parties. Several well-known actresses were mentioned in the evidence. Curious details ivere given of how male servants were sent to Chinese opium dens in the East End to secure the drug. They resorted to ingenious expedients to preserve secrecy, owing to the stringent antiopium law. Lo Ping was charged with being in possession of opium, and his •wife was charged with supplying same. "Billie" Carleton had made rapid progress in her profossion. For some time prior to her death she had been appearing at the Haymarket Theatre as leading woman to Denis Eadie, and was a popular favourite with London theatregoers. Miss Carleton is said to have been born in America, but her stage career began as a chorus girl in Mr George Edwardes' company at the London Gaiety Theatre. Her beauty and vivacity soon attracted attention, and later she went to tho Adelphi to play a small part in "The Dancing Mistress," and also acted as understudy to Gertie Miller. Subsequently she appeared with Grossmith and Laurillard at the Alhambra in a revue, "Eightpence a Mile." Seymour Hicks was another well-known actor with whom Miss Carleton was associated. She was one of the most attractive young women on the English stage, from the show viewpoint, and her success in revue ,and light comedy was meteoric. Off the stage Miss Carleton was inordinately fond of the diversions afforded by the Bohemian night clubs of London, and among the habitues of these resorts she was a conspicuous favourite.