A Gambler's Fate.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 78, 6 April 1904, Page 4

A Gambler's Fate.

SHOT AT MONTR CARLO. The well-dr»ssfed man who blew out his brains in a Mont* Carlo hotel a few days ago, says a London paper, and was buried under an assumed name, has now been identified by the London police, from tiie detailed description supplied to them, as Mr Meredyth Thomas-. Disguised us a solicitor, lie tried to shoot his wife In a London flat two months ago, and escaped to the Continent. His fate is a singular termination to a tragic life story. Mr Thomas was once an army officer, and, at all events, until recently, appeared to haw. plenty of money, lie was a prominent member of Hiviera society and his tell figure and handsome face were familiar enough lo frequenters of the Gasino. Nine years ago he married a pretty and' accomplished Frenchwoman, a relative of the Comtc do Oast on de Fleury. The Hnion proved an unhappy one. and the wife, twelve months sisce, left her huubund and went to reside in a flat in Smith Square, Westminster. Tkere her husband is nukl to have annoyad her hy unwelcome visits. He threatened to summon his brother-in-law for roughly handling him on one of these occasions, but altered his nind. After Mrs Thomas had actually taken out a summons against her husband for threatening her with a revolver, she received a letter, ostensibly from a firm of solicitors acting on his behalf, asking for an interview with a rievv to an amicable arrungement. The request was acceded to. A bent and grey-headed old gentleman,wearing u frock coat, black tie, and steel blue spectacles, and currying a black bag, called on Mrs Thomas, who awaited the "solicitor- in the company of her own legal representative and another gentleman. As soon as the visitor spoke, llrs Thomas became suspicious of his real identity. Before she could utter any reply to his assertion of the diseovery o; ul- [ leged compromising letters, however, the "lawyer" jumped to his f«et, produced a revolver, and fired. Fortunately, his aim was bud. The two men threw themselves upon him and seized the weapon. Leaving a grey wig and beard on the floor, Mr Thomas escaped, hatless and bleeding from tha struggle,. He had shaved off his moustache, and bought the wig for £4. A warrant was issued for his arrest, on the charge of attempted murder, but he eluded the police, and reached Monte Carlo. He lost heavily at the tables (it is believed) on Jan. 13, went back to his hotel and shot himself. As usual, the authorities were very reticent about the tragedy, and the suicide was buried undel - the disguise of Hobert Vernon.