ROMANTIC SUICIDE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4015, 18 January 1892, Page 2

ROMANTIC SUICIDE.

UnrwMLovo. A strange suicide took piece in Melbourne last week. The deceased was kiss Selina Palmer, aged twenty-five, a lady-help in tliß household of Mr Alfred Dampier, of theatrical fame, and Bhe is said to have poisoned herself on account of an unrequited attachment conceived for a scenic artist, who was recently engaged at the Alexandra Theatre, and is now about to proceed to America.. On Monday afternoon of last week 'Miss Lily Dampier, while passing the deceased's bedroom, heard souuds of vomiting, and upon entering discovered the occupant of the room reclining on the bed and gaap» ing for breath. Asked ihs cause of her illness, she replied:" Oh, lam so wicked, You will never forgive me. I took some poison at eleven o'clock this morning to end my miser! ablolifo," For the moment Miss Dampier could not realise the gravity of the position, but a3 soon as she had ascertained that the girl had really swallowed a quantity of an arsenical preparation she sent for Dr M'Cfibbon, and the usual remedies Were applied., She grow-worse, however, and Mr Dampier called in Dr Neili in consultation and procured the services of a skilled nurse, The deceased had been for five years in Mr Dampier's family, by tho members of which she was very highly esteemed, and everything conceivable was done to alleviate her sufferings, und, if possible, avert a fatal termination; but, despite the - attention of the medical attendants, she gradually sank, and died in great agony sixteen hours after the poison had baen taken.

At the inquest Mr Alfred Tisolibauer, scenic artist, employed at tho Alexandra Theatre, deposed that he knew Miss Palmer and met. her for the last time on Sunday, the 27th inst,, in the street near Mr Dampier's house, He did not see her afterwards or hear from her till Monday night, when bo received a letter written to him by her which should have been delivered to him in the morning. The letter read as follows:~

My Darling,—For so I may call you for' this once. You know on Saturday night you asked me if I had said anything about you, and I said No. I was afraid to tell you that I had said that you had asked me to go away with you to [America]. I knew you would be angry and cast me off for ever, but now I tell you 1 expect no mercy at your hands. I little thought that when we parted last night it would be tho last time on this earth I should see the face I loved so well, for I havn done what you would do were you in the same difficulty. God forgive me for it, but 1 cannot live without you, so I must die, Send me a line back quickly by the messenger, just to tell me you do not curse me. Only say you will forgive me and I shall leave this world happy, God bless you my dear love, Good-bye, Yours for today, but afterwards I shall, I suppose belong to God.—Your poor lost Selina, P.S—l was to leave next Monday, but Igoto my God to-day. Oh God I it is so hard to die, and life with you seems so happy, The Coroner: Did Miss Palmer ever give you reason to suppose she was of unsound mind ?—No, The letter appears to indicate that your relations with hor were intimate. Was that so ?—Yes. Was there any love between you ? -Only on her part, 1 never made love to her, and I only met her from time to time. •' Wasthoro any-unpleasantness on the occasion when she last saw you ? -He. : Do you know of anything which was likely'to .have prompted her to kill herself ?—No; I know of no reason, adequate or inadequate, for such an action on her part. Was it true that you were coins away?— No. After your last meeting did she show any signs of great emotion ? No, none whatever. Miss Lily Dampier, in the course of her evidence, said Mr Tischbauer had often visited her father's house, but not lately, Tbe Coroner: Were you aware of any attachment between Miss Palmor and Mr Tischbauer ?—No, When she spoke of him I thought she did so in terms suggestive of disparagement rather than affection. The jury returned a verdict. of " Self-destruotioii whilst of unsound 'mind,"