DUCHESS BOUND OVER

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1930, Page 4

DUCHESS BOUND OVER

SEQUEL TO ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. LONDON, April 20. The Duchess of Leinster, who, on Monday, was found guilty of attempting to commit suicide, came up for sentence at Lambeth Police Court yesterday. She was put on probation for two years. Formerly Miss May Etheridge, the actress, the Duchess, who is 38, had Been remanded in custody for a report from the prison doctor. She. was found unconscious near a gas stove in a flat in Benedict Road, Brixton, S.W., 01’ April 1. Stanley Williams, a chef, stated at Monday’s hearing that he had been living with the Duchess for six months. The Duchess, then giving evidence, said she had been very unhappy, did not intend to commit suicide, but, to frighten Williams, turned on the gas and put herself on the floor. “1 was acting,” she said, when Mr. Barker, prosecuting, pointed out that Police-Inspector Curzon said she showed no movement fox - fifteen minutes. The case ‘‘No. two remand” was called out by tihe Usher in a crowded court, and the Duchess of Leinster was ushered into the dock looking pale but attractive in a blue costume and hat and a fur necklot. Mr. Marshall, her solicitor, who appeared in the absence of Mr. Dickens, her counsel, addressing tne magistrate, said; “Assuming tne doctor’s report is favourable The Magistrate (Mr. McKenna): Would you like to see the report? Mr. Marshall: Yes, if 1 may. The doctor’s report received in the was then handed by the magisi i'Pte to Mr. Marshall, and while ae was reading it Mr. Barker asked if he might mention the costs in the case. They amounted, he said, to £4 Is id. Mr. Marshall, having completed his reiusal of the report, said to the magistrate, “The report favouiable it may assist your decision if I say that’ while the proceedings have been in progress there have been seveial offers received from friends of the ac-

ciised to take her and look after her, and not only look after her, but nuisv. her back to health .and strength. TWO LETTERS. “One of these offers is that of a lady who has a large place in the country? whose name I do not desire to mention, where my client will doubtless receive all the solace and gentle supervision which the case requires. “I have this letter here, which I would ask you to look at.” The Magistrate (Mr. McKenna) then read the letter offered to him Marshall, who, resuming, said: “My client is quite willing to accept that offer and to remain there for such pei iod as you might direct or as her friends suggest. I have also a letter from the solicitors of the trustees ol ■,he Leinster Estates which will probably be useful in the circumstances and which I would also ask you to look

Mr. McKenna raised the question of an allowance mentioned in the letter, and Mr. Marshall said, “That amount has been paid for some years, and no doubt will be continued. . They only wish to point out that it is a voluntary allowance. This being so, I ask you to allow my client, having suffered all site has suffered during the last week or two, to be released.” Mr. McKenna: Have you made any inquiries as to tho lady* who makes this generous offer? Do you know who she is, or anything about her? Mr. Marshall: I believe the police are acquainted with the fact that it is a very nice place, and she is a suitable ; er son. Mr. Barker: 1 understand she is here. Mr. McKenna: 1 only wanted to know if she is suitable. He suggested two sureties, and Mr. Marshall said there was one lady who would go surety in the sum of £5O, and he expected that the other lady would enter into a bond for the same amount. Mr. McKenna asked what the Duchess’s religion was, and Mr. Mar-

shall s lid that she was Church of England. x , The Magistrate: I propose to put am under tlje supervision of the Probation Officer, who wil> have to take responsibility for her, and if any bad habits develop she will have tc be brought back here and dealt with in the ordinary way. ■ Addressing the Duchess, the Magistrate said: You will have to try and see that no nonsense of this sort happens again. The Duchess: It shall not. The Magistrate: It is not the first time. It must be the last time. _ The Duchess, almost in a whisper, answered: It will be. The Magistrate: 1 shall put you on probation for two years. If you fall into bad habits or frequent bad company, or fail to keep in touch with the Pre bation Officer, you will be brought back here and dealt with in another " The Duchess: Yes, sir. Thank you. The Magistrate then formally bound the Duchess over for two years in her own recognisances and two other sureties of £5O each. The Duchess then bowed to the Magistrate and hurriedly left the Court.