COCAINE ADDICTS

Evening Star, Issue 18668, 24 June 1924, Page 8

COCAINE ADDICTS

BIS TOGETHER. TRAGEDY IN FUT. 'Dio extraordinary double tragedy in a Melbourne fiat on Wednesday morning (Juno 11) has directed attention again lo tho peculiar effects of indulgence in the cocaine habit (writes tho Sydney correspondent of tho Auckland ‘ Star ’). After what seems lo have been a cocaine orgy, Alberto PasqnaJon, twenty-seven, an Italian art, dealer, took poison, and Louise •Vivior, twenty-five, a married woman, said to have been Past]union's mistress, despairing for the life of her lover, administered a strong dose to herself, and fell, dying, alongside him. Mrs Vivier was separated from her husband. who is thought lo lo living in Qneonsl.'Uid, and for many months she and Pasqnalon had been sharing a flat in an apartment-house. in Hast Melbourne. Karly on Wednesday morning, clad only in a kimono and a raincoat, she knocked at the door of i'Vain.ko (ienovro, who lives in the same building, and asked him lo enmn and see what, he could do for her lover, (tenevro could see that Pasqnalon was in a bad way, and he calkd the ambulance. The woman was obviously overwrought, and while Genevro’s hack was tamed she look a dose, of poison from a phial, and threw herself on her lover's Ix'dv.

“ I will die with liim,’" she repeated again and agaki, and eventually she, too, lapsed into unconsciousness. PiuiqnaJon was dead on arrival at the hospital, ami Airs Vivier died noon afterwards.

In t.he flat tho police found a note written by Pasqnalon in tho following terms: “1 love, yon, tint I must go. Rotter for you. I will never forget, you. 1 love yon 100 much, Don't, worry, darling, it is for tho best. A thousand kisses." Mrs Vivier’s note read: “My Albert died from faking cocaine, which ho got from someone, so I cannot live without him, and 1 am going, too. Please write, to rny people m Townsville and ted! them.”

From what (ho authorities have been able to gather, Pasqnalon formed nn attachment for Airs Vivier eight months ago. ami they lived together over since. They have been a devoted couple, and I here was no hint of an impending I,raged v. t hone'n Mrs Vivier said to the land ladv onco before that if Pasqnalon died she would die with him. This was not taken as an indication that suicide was intended.

There were many empty bottles in the flat, end the police reached tho conclusion that tho tragedy was the result of an all-night- orgy, during which much liquor had Loon consnzrfed, and many doses of cocaine administered to man and woman. Punctures on the arms of lioih indicated that, they wore addicts.

Pasqnalon, arrived in Australia three years ago as an officer on an Italian ship, lie met Louise Vivier late last year, and they appear to have been drawn together irresistibly. No noise was heard from their llaf, on Tuesday night, and there was apparently no disagreement, between them. Money 'troubles are, thought to bo behind tho strange affair.