"FREDDY IS CALLING."

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1919, Page 5

"FREDDY IS CALLING."

j STORY OF EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE. WOMAN DELIBERATELY WALKS INTO HARBOR. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, August 11. A singular case was down for hearing at the Police Court this morning, in the shape of a charge against a young woman of 19 years, named Pearl Burke, of having aided and abetted another young woman, Jessie West, in commission of suicide. Jessie Wist Was the woman who drowned herself in Whangarei ITarbor under strange circumstances one night at the beginning of last June, walking into the water in her sleeping attire from the steps of the town wharf, and Pearl Burke it wns who accompanied her to the water's edge. Accused afterwards returned' to the hotel where both girls were employed. The proceedings in the court were only formal Burke is at present in Auckland Hospital, hav-1 ing collapsed on her way down irom I the north, and accordingly depositions! only could be taken.

The first deposition was that of the coroner (J. M. Killen), who formally deposed to the evidence given ky Burke at the inquest, and this was followed by the story of William Robert West, farmer, of Cambridge, who told the court that he married the deceased woman, then named Bissett, at a registry office at Hamilton in January. The deceased girl was then 30 years of age. Subsequently she went away to Auckland on holiday, and thence to Whangarel. She wrote to him from both places, her last letter being from the Whangarei Hotel. Thoy had lived on good terms and had never had an angry word. The evidence of Ellen Murphy, cook, of Symonds Street, Auckland, and employed at the Whangarel Hotel at the time of the suicide, was read. She told the court that she shared room 13 with West, and accused occupied the adjoining room. After witness commenced work at the hotel the deceased woman said she had a great friend named Fred. Potts, contractor and builder, of Cambridge, of whom she was very'fond, and who luid shot himself. He was a widower with several children, and had' got into financial difficulties. In order to assist him she had married an old man named West, from whom she hoped to get money to give to Potts. She had failed, however, to get any money from her husband. She told, witness that her maiden name was Bissett and her parents had died some time ago. Qiscuesing Potts, West incidentally mentioned that she wag a believer in spiritualism and had attended one meeting in Auckland, ffkta 4mwm* teiil tkl|.

which was frequently, witness leagued ■» at her, and alio became very asgty. , ' West was continually speaking of Freddy Potts and declaring that she wasted to

join him. She ialso informed witnSß* that before ftlie went to the spiritualist meotinga sho wanted to drown herself, but she found she could communicato with him, and did not want to do so Sow. Later, she said that Freddy'* spirit wanted her to join him, and that it had communicated witlkber by knocking on the table. Witness laughed at' her, hiit shortly After Pearl Burke came West proposed that they should" hold a SEANCE IN HER BEDROOIt . ■' and witness rained no objection, ahd made arrangements for the meeting at 7.30. She got a three-legged flower stand and put a chair bottom onit. Jessie West 'put the light out and thav ° began to sing "There is a happyland, far, far away." Witness heard three faint knocks on the bedroom floor. Qae > of the table legs was slightly railed, as though it had made a noise. Jessie West . remarked that the result was no food, as she could not interpret them. Qn the ' occasion of the first knock she had said: "Good evening, spirit friend/* lant, as the other knocks were faint, ahe abandoned the seance. Witness attended > no more meetings, but Jessie West and Pearl Burke continued to bold meetings,, witness being in bed in the room on one or two occasions. The proceedings were , i similar. West endeavored to speak to Freddy, asking if he were happy, and . purported to get replies. These were to the effect that he was not very happy, but happier than he was on. earth, Pearl Burke inquired of the spirits about her dead brother. Accused had told witness that she (Burke) : INTENDED TO DROVPN OTEBfltpr.i? about a fortnight before the fuedf' - occurred,. Jeßsie West told witness that »'"■ she intended to drown herself so aa to be able to meet Freddy,. but that (he WotfU not drown herself at WhangareL She added that she would get a few ' and go up to the Waikato.. Witness told ' hor that if she did take a few days she would tell other people about it or else follow her and stop her. After ■'■■■ that ajie was more reserved toward I witness, but she became very friendly with Pearl Burke. Witness was ilk the . bedroom several times when they bad i bean talking together, and they stopped talking immediately she came in, In the week before the suicide they were exceptionally friendly. On June 2, wfcft witness returned from the pictures, she asked 'the accused where deceased had gone. Accused replied: ''She has drowned herself."

A statement made to Constable Martin by the accused was handed in. Id this -the accused gave a detailed fttcount of the seances. Deceased inquently said she.would commit suicide by drowning herself in the Waikato • Rivet, - and intimated her inu ntioft of asking for two days off for the pvctpoM of going there. Continuing, the statement recorded: "About 745 p.m. 0 n Juno ' 2 the late Jessie \Vest and myself held ' a spiritualist meeting in hei; room, lie 7 lights were turned out as usual, and we placed our hands on the table. Deceased said: 'Jewio loves Freddy,' and the table knocked three ttknes, which deceased said meant, 'Yes.' Then she said: 'Does Freddy -want Jajnie!' and the tahl" agtiip knocked three times. Then she said: 'ls Frfeddy happy without Jessie?' and the table knocked once, which deceased said meant 'No.' Tills seance lasted until 8.10 p,m., amHlie;! the deceased lighted a candle and aa'.l she was >■ ' ■

GOING TO MEET FRJ2DDY.

o,nd tlmt. she would be ever so mucli happier and he would be happiet "t r oo, She, at this time, had her costume 011. She told mo to go and put my coat. oil, Tliii I did and 1 joined her again in-lip!;, room. She said: 'We'll go nw#,' and then ij we left the hotel by the back entrance.' f Deceased said: 'Weil go down on to tin# " .wharfi.' and accordingly we did sc. D#ceased on the way to the wharf kept ».• talking about her Freddy calling her it 1 the wharf. Deceased took off her clothing witty the exception of hor nightdress and ft pair of white stocking*, and, after handing them to me, went down the" wharf steps and went quietly into water. After she went into the w*t« I watched her for three or law minutes before I left the wharf to return to the hotel " The statement' added lhat' ac*, etined did not tell the truth to tne police at first because West had told Infer not ■ to say anything. ; . The depositions were then read over to the accused in the hospital before Mr. Hunt, S.M., who committed her foj trial r.t the Supreme Court. In the proceedings at the hospital Mr. Moody formally objected to ww ■ . Murphy's evidence relating: to con venations at which accused was not praseilt. IN THE SUPREME COURT. , CHARGE THROWN OUT." !" ' Auckland, Aug.' 11 At the Supreme Court, in the case of I Pearl Burke, charged with aiding" and ! abetting Jessie West to commit Mlioido . ■ nt Whanjrarei, tlip Grand .Turv retiwned ' no bill. His Honor asrecd witli the And- ' .J injr. It seemed to him that tlie w«ni\n who committed suicide was the teadhi? mind and accused's was entirely a passive one. Accused was discharged.