ELOPEMENT AND SUICIDE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1968, 24 April 1919, Page 4

ELOPEMENT AND SUICIDE.

COUPLE'S TRAGIC FATE

“EASIER TO DIE TOGETHER

A married man's elopement Avith the Avife of another man, their holiday together in the isle of Man, and (heir return home deliberately to die together in the canal, were the features of an astounding story revealed at an inquest at Andenshaw, near Ashton-under-Lyne, The body of Hie Avoman —Eleanor Sheldon, Avife of Albert Sheldon, a -private in the R.A.M.C.— was .found in Hie canal, and, nothing being Iciioavu of Hie elopement, a verdict of “Found drowned” avus returned.

The romantic story of the couples passion for each other was only revealed Avhen the body of John Middleton, an engineer, of Ashton, avus later also found in the canal.

Middleton and Mrs Shckloj Avorked for the same firm, and letters found on the man’s body, and read at the new inquest, prove that the couple ran away together, visited Liverpool and the Isle of Man, and returned home to drown themselves.

In a loiter addressed to his Avife, Middleton wrote: — There is no other way out of it, as Ave loved each other Avith a love so great that it was easier to die than liA'e our lives apart. I can assure you avg die happy together. If there is anything beyond this world I know avc shall be there together. If I could have saved you such misery I would have done so, but it was impossible.”

lie then gave a detailed account

of the happy time they had spent at the Isle of Man, and added they did not intend leaving the island alive, but later they thought it would be better if they came nearer home before ending their lives. On his body was also a letter written by the woman to her husband, in which she said; — It is impossible to live without Jack, It would be far more wrong for me to stay at home with you; then there would have been nothing but misery for both of us. On Saturday, when I left, home, I did not know where to go, but, we decided to have a few days’ happiness together before we ended all. It has been the happiest week of my life, but I know it cannot last Her letter concluded, “Lot him who is .without sin throw the first

stone.” The coroner said it was a deliberate ease ot suicide. They knew their attachment could not last, so they agreed to put an end to themselves, and came home for that purpose. He could not alter the verdict which had already been returned in the ease of the woman, but in the ease of Middleton it was clear!v suicide.