THE YARRA TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10262, 3 February 1899, Page 5

THE YARRA TRAGEDY.

VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

MELBOURNE, February 2,

At the inquest on the body of the girl Ambrose, Dr. Neild, who made the post mortem examination, said he was still of opinion that she died of suffocation. The suggestion that she died from epilepsy, puerperal convulsions, or a piece of food sticking in the windpipe, was not borne out. The statement that a hand had been placed on the mouth of the girl would, if it could be relied upon, exactly fit the circumstances.

A verdict of wilful murder has been returned against Radalyski for causing Ambrose's death by suffocation. Dubborke and Tod were joined~as accessories both before and after tihe fact, and Dr. Gaze as an accessory before the fact, and all have been committed for trial.

Of the nine witnesses who were examined at the resumption of tie inquest on ' the girl Mabel Ambrose, on January 25th, the young woman Thekla Dubberke, who, from her own atory, acted as Ofga Radalyski's companion, was by far the most important. That remarkable self-pofesession .which she has from the first displayed never (says the "Age") for a moment deserted her, and she related with seeming indifference- incident after incident of the grim tragedy in which she had played a prominent part. She confessed fhat v she counselled both • Radalyski and Tod, and that she, from time to time advised the unhappy girl. When the woman persisted in treating the. deceased illegally, "simply forthe sake of Mr Tod," as she put it, it was Dubberke who warned her of the danger, and urged her fo desist; when the girl died, it was she who suggested that the hair should be cut off so as to render identification more difficult. A J sensational feature of the evidence given by Dubberke was that relating to her association with Dr. Gaze, of "the Polypathia Institute. She produced a letter., dated 14th December, and signed "Your loving friend, Dr. Bill," which, she said, she had received from the doctor named. In this the writer begged her to come and see hini, saying that he uad expected her that evening, and was worrying about her. When ate called, he asked her how she had got on in regard to the disposal of the body. She told him everything, and inquired whether he thought the box would be likely to float. He assured her that it would, as the gases would force the body to the surface, ,and later *<m he 'told Radalyski) who waited on him, the same thine. Describing the unfortunate girl's death, Dubberke said: "I called out, 'Good gracious! What have ydu done?' Madam 6 answered, 'I have killed the girl, and I will be hanged! , I vud, 'Shall Igo for a doctor?' She said, 'No; get some brandy.' I got it, and while I wae trying to give the girl brandy, Olga heated some bottles and placed them round the body. I reproached Madame, but she said it was no. useVtalking now. I eaid I would get Dr. Gaze to come and see whether the girl was dead or not. The woman remarked that perhaps he would give a certificate. He said he couW not give k a certificate, as ne would get into trouble for doing so. At my reqneJt he promised to come out and see the girl. I returned home and went lor Tod. When I told him Mabel was dead he replied, «My God, no!' Then he inquired how it happened. When I returned with Tod to the house. I found that Dr. Gaze had arrived. He said he could not make out the cause of death, and he remarked that the body was hardly cold. He also said that 'if anything came bat his name should not be used." Dubberke went on to say that next day she had a conversation with Olga about the girl's death. "I asked -her what the girl did when she screamed. Madame said. 'The girl screamed, and I put my hand over her txrnth to stop her. . She also eaid,'Oh, if you had seen the sight you would never have forgotten it all the days of your life.'" J

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