AMAZING MARRIAGE AND SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 26, 24 February 1909, Page 4

AMAZING MARRIAGE AND SUICIDE.

Some truly amazing stories were related before Mr Drew, tile Hammersmith coroner, recently during au inquiry into the suicide of Anthony Pauline L. Strong, aged twenty-two years, who had been lodging at Mililord Gardens. The first witness was the father of the dead man, Key. Loriiner Wilson Strong, of Clifton, Bristol, staying at the Ureal Western Hotel, I'aifylington. He said his son had no occupation, and witness made him an allowance. He was a reserved man of very silent moods. The last time witness saw him alive was in September last, Beyond some love trouble, he did not think liis son had any real worry, though he was disappointed that since leaving Oxford he had been unable to go into the army. There had never been any suggestion of suicide. Mrs Beatrice Jloiv, the landlady at .Minford Gardens, said that Mr Strong was frequently visited) by a lady lriend. On Sunday evening (December 27) witness heard him moving furniture in his bedroom, and between 1 and 2 a.m. her attention was attracted by the barking of the dog. On the following day Mr Strong bad not been seen when the lady called. She went away and returned with a gentleman friend—Mr Blake—who forced an entrance to the room, when they found that Mr Strong had .■onimitted suicide.

Had he any trouble ?—There was a love trouble ; a few dUys ago he told me it was the old, old atory—that his chum had taken his sweetheart away, and that it had ruined him.

Reginald Blake, who described himself as a schoolmaster looking for work, said he lived at Park House, Richmond road, Shepherd's Bush. He knew Mr Strong had failed to take his degree at Oxford. Witness last saw him on Christmas Eve, when he expressed his intention of going i:ito the country. What diili you hear next';— Mr* Strong came to see me and said Mr Strong was locked in his room.

Who is Mrs Strong '/—Deceased's widow.

The Coroner's OJBcer • I understood it was Mrs Blake, and the name was «ivcn mo as such. GOING TO MARRY THE WIDOW, The Coroner (to witness) : You told lire officer it was your wife ?—Yes ;to .shield her as much as I could. I am going to marry her. Your statement was not true Technically, no.

A little previous ?—Yes. Blake explained liow lie forced his way into the room and found his chum hanging from a hook in the wall. Witness had heard his friend apeak of suicide in ii general sort of way. The love trouble was over Mrs Strong. The couple were marriedl in September and separated i" Ovtobef. Why did he leave his wife? —She left him.

But used to visit him ?—Yes.' On good terms 'l— He said he was going to get a divorce. Were you on good tcnus ?—F have always been civil to him. When he told his landlady liis chum had taken his girl away, did that refer to you ?—Yes. Since the death you and the wido.7 have arranged to. get married ?—Yes ; or after the divorce. Who was to be the co-respomlent ? Myself. In reply to further questions, Blake said he often took Mrs Strong to see her husband. He allowed her an income ?—Yes. A mutual sort of arrangement'!—He insisted on it. A Juror : You were living with the woman as man and wife ?—'Yes. Are you not ashamed of yourself ? Xot in the least. The Coroner: He is candid, if nothing else. The father, recalled, said this was lh'*< first he had heard of the marriage. He would like to see the certificate, 1 The Coroner observed that the woman would be called, and could be questioned on oath. If she committed perjury shewould be liable to prosecution. The father said he had heard his son speak of a .fellow undergraduate at Keble College, Oxford, named Blake.

STORY OF THE MARRIAGE. When the coroner's ofiicer called "Phyllis Blake/' a slim young woman, wearing a long, fashionable ulster and '•Merry Widow" hat, went into the witness-hox. She said her name was Amy Strong, and that she was married ,i t St. George's, Canoiibury, on September 15. Her mother and Mr Blake were present. She lived with her husband three weeks, and then he had to go into the country for a short time.

What happened while he was awav ? —Blake came to stay with me. And your husband found it out ?—No. Why di(IV you separate ?—Mr Blake and myself ran away. Mrs Strong, in reply to another question, said her husband regularly allowed her .t'l weekly out of his £2 income. The Coroner : What! -When you were living with another man, who had no regular income ; money which was used to help keep him'/—Yes. lie was anxious for a divorce, lie gave roe money because I was his wife. Did you ever hear of collusion in divorce ?—No. You took the money and helped to support th'c other man I—Yes. A Juryman : llow old are you 1— Eighteen. Did you blow Make before you met your husband ?—Yes. What were you before your marriage? —My mother kept a flower ssiop.

BOUND AND GAGGED. Police Constable Mutton (880 T), who cut the body down, said it was hidtten behind a screen. Mr Strong had hanged himself with a piece of boxcord. lie had previously tied his legs with a piece of string and had placed a piece of linen over his mouth, which was tied with three handkerchiefs bearing liis own name. There was an unsigned letter in the room over which Mr Strong had scribbled his name many times. Dr. Harrison said death was due to asphyxia from hanging, and' lie was satisfied it was Mr Strong's own act. The Coroner said that although that was not a court of morals the jury could form their own views after what tlicy had heard.

After deliberating in private the jury returned a verdict of Suicide when temporarily insane through worry and trouble." They expressed their sympathy with Mr Strong senior. The Coroner said he had never heard a more extraordinary story than that told by a creature (lilake) who was living partly on the income derived from her husband by the woman he had stolen. If the evidence had not been given on oatli he could hardly have credited it.