AGREE TO DIE TOGETHER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 149, 24 June 1911, Page 17

AGREE TO DIE TOGETHER.

LONDON COUPLE WHO TOOK POISON. George Magney was charged on remand at North London, on Saturday, May 6, with attempting to murder Amy Lee by administering to and causing to be taken by her oxalic acid, on April 27, at Millsnelds, Claptoo.

Early on the morning of April 28, Policeconstable Wood saw the prisoners In Lower Claptou Itoad. The girl staggered and fell, and Magney then bent over her. When the officer reached them he found the girl unconscious, and the young man in a dazed condition. lie gathered from them that they had both taken oxalic acid, meaning to die together. They were taken to Dr. Martin's surgery near by, and there emetics were administered. Dr. Martin said that both had drunk a corrosive poison, but neither had taken a fatal dose. In a statement made later, Magney said that they had purchased twopennywortli of oxalic, dissolved it in soda-water, and each had drunk some. Both the prisoners were charged with attempted suicide, and on this charge they were sent to the Sessions for trial.

On the charge of attempted murder, Mrs. Lee, residing at Petting Street, Limehouse, said that she was the mother of Amy Lee, who was 19 years old. The girl had been keeping company with the prisoner for nine months, but as he was constantly out of work the witness had objected to her daughter going out with the prisoner, ana had forbidden him to come to the house. The witness said that three of the letters found on Magnej- were in her daughter's haud-writing. Another had been written by Maguey himself.

The letter in Magney's handwriting read as follows: —

"My dear Amy,—Just a few lines to asfe if you are willing to come and take poison with mc to-night, as you know your mother is trying to part us, and it would break my heart to part with you. Dear Amy, you know I am willing to take poison if you are. so let mc know as soon as you can. If you won't take it with mc. I shall take it myself to-night, as you know I love you too much and cannot live without you, so will you let mc know one way or the other?" The reply to this yetter was in the girl's handwriting, and read as follows:— "Dear George,—l will meet you early at corner, and will do what you ask. They intend us to part, but it is no use. I don't tbink it riffbt to live If you commit suicide, so yon shall see mc for the last time alive. —Amy."

The prisoners, who were undefended and said nothing while ia tlxe dock, were tnen formal]; committed, , ,