A SOUTH MELBOURNE TRAGEDY.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 43, 20 January 1894, Page 9

A SOUTH MELBOURNE TRAGEDY.

That veteran coroner, Dr Tout, of Melbourne, addressed some very plainjwords to a witness at the inquest on tlie body of a young woman named McLellan, who drowned herself at South Melbourne, and in trying to save whom a young man named Satcholl lost his life. The witness in question, Robert Alfred Dirties, had been keeping company with McLellan, but denied that he was engaged to be married to her. He stated in the course of bis evidence that when he threw a life - buoy in after Satcholl there did not appear to be much rope on it, but a constable contradicted this, stating that there were 45ft of rope attached to it.—Dirties also stated that lie did not think Satchell over reached McLellan. The Coroner. —I don’t think so either. I think he took cram; >. If you had not thrown the life-buoy in, rope, and all, he might probably have been saved. Witness. — Wc could see the buoy, but judging from the sound of his voice he was four or live yards away from it. The people on the pier seemed to know he was an expert ■swimmer. The Coroner. —h es; but if he took the cramp, that was no use. Witness. — iS r u ; but the life-buoy was there when ho called for help. Wo then got the long pole and held it a bit, but it would take five or six men to hold such a pole long, and so we threw it in to him, hoping he would be able to use it till a boat or some other means of help came. The Coroner. —You have brought about two deaths—sacrificed two lives by your conduct. Witness. —It has transpired since this occurrence that she took poison before she knew me. The Coroner.—That has nothing to do with this. She did not succeed in taking her life previously, and she did succeed iu the drowning, and that was entirely due to your conduct from what she says. These two lives were sacrificed from your conduct. Witness.—she had admitted poisoning herself previously, and professional aid had to bo got to recover her. The Coroner. —If I had been in the same position as you wore with the woman, wild liorses would not have drawn it from me. Witness. —The truth must be spoken. The Coroner. —There arc times when the truth should not be spoken. If you will do these tilings you .should protect a woman’s character, even if a lie is wanted. There was nothing at all affecting her character excepting you and your conduct. Verdict —suicide whilst temporarily insane.