A SAD DOUBLE SUICIDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2508, 27 May 1893, Page 3

A SAD DOUBLE SUICIDE.

One of the most painful episodes of the want and suffering arising out of the stringency of the times in Melbourne has been brought to light by the suicide, on the 13th inst, of an elderly couple at St. Kilda. Their names are Thomas and Mary Pauley, and they had until recently filled the positions of handyman and housekeeper respectively to a gentleman rosidiug at Shervn od,but shrinkage of bis income forced the employer of the old couple to dispense with their services. Thomas Pauley was 70 years old, and his wife was 64,J and being past making a new start in life they drifted into the most acute distress. At first they rented a little house in Richmond, but their small stock of money rapidly dwindled away before the calls of the landlord, butcher, and baker. Arrears of rent soon caused the inevitable result that their furniture was sold under distress for rent, and they were thrust out in the street. The good offices of neighbours, only a shade less needy than themselves, kept Pauley and his wife for a while from starvation. They found a habitation with a Mrs Dingle, but left her house about a fortnight ago, and since that time whatever food and sustenance they received came from Mrs James Robertson, who, for all that she was in straitened circumstances herself, always epai’ed a portion for Pauley and his wife, who felt so deeply the sacrifice which Mrs Roberson was making for them that they choose to end it by death. They avowed their intention openly of putting an end to themselves, and on Friday last set out, having first stated that they intended to drown themselves at South Melbourne. By some means the aged pair became separated on their journey. Mrs Pauley returned to Mrs Robertson, but it was not until morning that her husband came back. He was wet through, almost benumbed with cold, and could hardly walk, being nearly exhausted with fatigue. On Saturday they again went out, repeating their threat, but as nothing had come of it previously no precautions were taken. A little before 5 o’clock, however, two St. Kilda boatmen heard screams off the St. Kilda pier. They at once rowed in that direction, and on arrival at the head of the jetty they found the body of Mrs Pauley floating ou the surface of the water. They took her out, but life was extinct. The body of her husband was found on Sunday.