WOMAN’S SUICIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1929, Page 8

WOMAN’S SUICIDE

GAMBLER WHO LOST AT MONTI CARLO.

LONDON, Nov. 28,

The letter of a Maharajah’s daughter, announcing that she was about to commit suicide owing to gambling losses at Monte Carlo was read in the Probate Court before .Mr. Justice Hill yesterday. .Mrs Pauline Torry of King-street, St. James’s, \Y., was the plaintiff in ail action concerning the estate, worth a-Oout £30,000, of her sister, Mine. Ada Irene Helen Beryl Yilleinant, who drowned herself at Monte Carlo on October 8, 1926. They' were-daughters of the late -Maharajah Ruleon Singh. Airs Torry propounded a will dated April 13, 1925, leaving her the whole of the residue. The defendants were Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, who, under a will of September 15, 1926, received the whole estate, Mine. Villemant’s mother, the Maharanee's step-daughters, the Princess Sophia, Princess Catherine, and Princess Eamba. In the defence the question arose as to whether the dead woman was ol sound testamentary capacity. Air Bush James said that Afme. Arilleniant in 1910 married a Frenchman, AT. Pierre Villeniant, and was a domiciled Frenchwoman. On September 15, 1926, she made a will which lie was instructed was valid under French iaw. -MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE WILL. Jt left everything to Dr Barnardo’s Homes, in which for some years she had taken a great interest. She had frequently expressed a desire to benefit them. Airs Faith Burton said she identified the handwriting of the will, written in pencil oil the back of a marriage certificate as that of Alme Villeniant. Sir Ellis Hume-Williams '(cross-exam-ining) : Do you know that 'she had been in a nursing home at .Mentone in 1926? —No, I do not think so. And that in 1923 she was in a mental establishment? —Jt was a nursing home, 1 understood. Do you know that her mother, the Alaharanee Deleep Singh, and a mental specialist went to see her there ?—Yes. Were you ever told by Dr Crouch (at the home) that Alme. A’idemant was childish, some days refused her food, and would go to bed and put the bedclothes over her head like a child?— 'The doctor said she was difficult as she objected to the discipline at the home. EVERYTHING TO SISTER. Did you ever hear that she thought that she had been deserted by her husband and separated from her children ?—No. Airs Burton agreed that Alme Villemant was “highly self-centered.’’ Air Stuart Bevan said that Alme. . lllemant by her will of April 1925, exercised her power of appointment under her marriage settlement. Subject to the appointment of £3OO a year to her husband for life, she left the whole of her interest to Airs Torry, her elder sister. The three princesses were her halfsisters, being the daughters of the late Ala barn jail by his first wife. If the power of appointment was not validly exercised under Alme. Villemant’s will me whole of the property would go to the Alaharanee and the half-sisters. UNHAPPY MARRIAGE. Alme. Villeniant was not very happy in her marriage. Although she had a flat in Paris, she spent a good deal of her time in the south of France. She was very fond of the tables, and at times gambled beyond her means, wnich troubled her. Like most gamblers she was unfortunate. Air Bevan read Alme. Yillemnnt’s last letter, which she wrote to a friend in London on the day she cbm hutted suicide. It ran: Aly dear Lancy,—Please. I beg of you, do not be affected by this letter, because it is not worth while, as 1 am quite cool-headed and heartless. Nobody will ever hear of me again as I am going to commit suicide this afternoon. It is the same old story of four years ago. I am homeless. Pierre (her husband) will not find me a home, but please do not upset him as I daresay it has ibecn six of one and half a dozen of the other. . . “I LOSE AIY ALU-nEY.” “Will you call at Burrell’s the lawyer and have my will cancelled? I leave all I possess to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes for the poor children. Will you as a friend tell my mother gently, hut she could not help me now as she left me too much alone and friendless during childhood. I have been staying a week at Alonte Carlo, but here I only play the fool and lose my pocket money. I shall be overdrawn at Alorgan and Harjcs for £64 I owe £3O to Pierre, November 1, and £BO to the Baroness Zuylen, December 1, and that is all. Airs Pauline Torry giving evidence, said that Alme. Villeniant was aware that she (Airs Torry) had no means of her own—only a voluntary allowance from her mother and a war widow s pension. She had made a- will in her (Airs Torry’s favour.