A BARMAID POISONS HERSELF.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4393, 25 February 1884, Page 3

A BARMAID POISONS HERSELF.

[BY TKLE-IIAVIt. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLIKfITON, Sunday. Yesterday evening a barmaid at the Union Hotel, named Olga Stonesse, a Dane, aged about 24, died under very suspicious circumstances. She was well known here some time ago, but only recently returned from a visit to Auokland, and was accompanied by a man named Miller, who represented himself as her husband. Sho was engaged at tho Union as barmaid, having been there formerly, and Miller lived in the house. It appears that yesterday, about ono o'clock, through some cause unascertained, but supposed to be jealousy, she took about half a box of " Rough on Rats," and soon began to suffer greatly. Miller went to a chemist's and got something for her, but it was not till lato in tho evening that Dr. Gillon was sent for. Ho was out at tho timo, but returnod in about half an hour, and then found her suffering from the effects of an irritant poison, and in great agony. Sho was at times delirious, but at intervals stated sho had taken the "Rough on Rats," not thinking it was really poison. She died in about an hour and a-half afterwards. Tho Inquest To-day. W ellinctox, this day. At tho inquest on tho body of Olga Stonesse, Thomas Gordon, chemist, said that Miller (the supposed husband of decoased) called at his shop on Saturday afternoon, and said a friend of his had taken half a box of " Rough on Rats, and wished to know if such a dose would provo fatal. Witness replied: "Yes;" and told Miller to go for a doctor at once. Miller replied that the person who had teken it was a well-known person in town, and did not require medical assistance Witness gave him an emetic. In about an hour, Millor returned and said the ometic had acted. Witness told him to go for Dr. Gillon at once. Previous to this, Miller led witness to believe that the deceased was a man, but at this stago informod witness to tho contrary. Pearson, a friend of Millers, was in deceased's room just boforo sho died. Miller was there also. Sho sprang up in bed and exclaimed to Miller, " Havo I not loved you, Willie ?" Miller replied, "Yes, my darling ; I know you have ; " and kissed her. Witness then asked deceased why she bad taken the poison, and sho replied she did not think what she was doing. William Thomas Miller said ho was a I cotton planter. He first mot deceased in Juno last, «Bot Auckland, who was thon | pianist to Kudarz and Co , travelling per. formers. Witness and deceased came hero from Auckland under the name of Mr and Mrs Hethrington. On arriving in Welling- j eon they took their proper names. By Detective Brown : They were not married. Millor admitted that his name had op. peared in tho Auckland papers in connection with a seduction caso; also that ho had given hor the poison, olt lined in Auckland to kill rats. After sho had taken the poison she hid tho key of tho bedroom, and told wit sss she was all: right. Directly witness promised not to go for a doctor deceased opened tho door and witness ran to tho chemist's. Dr. Gillon hold a post mortem examination, and said he found the lungs healthy, the heart empty, and the kidneys congested. The stomach is very much inflamed. The Coroner drew the attention of the Jury to tho very long time that elapsed between the time deceased had taken the poison until medical aid was obtained. ' The jury returned a verdict that deceased met her death by hor own hand, not believing at tho timo in the deadly nature of the compound. A rider was added that Mr W. R. Mills, deserves seyoro censure j for notcalUng medical aid earlier.