WEDDING NIGHT TRAGEDY.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 158, 24 February 1903, Page 4

WEDDING NIGHT TRAGEDY.

An extraordinary tragedy occurred last night at the Yictoria Coffee Palace, Collins Street (says the Argus of the 3rd inst); Mr Richard luce, a wellknown resident of Ballarat, who had taken a room for the night, died suddenly during a seizure, presumably of heart failure.

It appears that Mr Ince, who was 72 years of age, was married yesterday in Melbourne to a lady who is still in the twenties. The bride had come oyer from Western Australia to be married, and their intention was to return immediately and spend their honeymoon there. They took passage by the R.M.S. Ophir, which sailed yesterday afternoon, but they missed the steamer, which had all their luggage on board. There was no alternative but to remain in Melbourne that night, take tbe express f train to Adelaide to-day, and join the steamer there to-morrow. At about 9 o’clock last night Mr Inee, who, though looking his age. appeared bright and in the best of health went to the Victoria Coffee Palace, accompanied by his wife and booked a room. He explained to Mr Walker,' the manager, that he had missed the steamer, and remarked that he intended leaving for Ballarat by the first train in the morning, and then catching the Adelaide Express at that city in the afternoon. “Be sure that lam awakened at half past four* o’clock,” were his last words as he left the office. Mr and Mrs Ince retired to their room, but half an hour afterwards the young woman ran out into the corridor and screamed frantically for help, exclaiming that her husband was dying. One of the attendants (Michael Oarmody) went upstairs, and found the old man lying in bed, gasping for breath His face was purple, and he appeared to be dying. A telephone message was sent to Dr Officer, who lives close at hand, but on Bis ai rival Mr Ince was dead. The occurrence was reported to the police, and the body 7 was taken to the Morgue by Constable Mornment.