BRIDE BY PROXY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11832, 13 January 1933, Page 3

BRIDE BY PROXY

TRAGEDY AFTER ROMANCE

NEW TEAR DEATH* PACT

TWO SHOT THROUGH HEART

SYDNEY, Jan. 5

Courtship by letter, marriage by. proxy ih it little Italian church, . a trip to Australia,’ where, fur the first ■time, slie met her countryman-husb-:and and, finally, disillusionment which led to-a, death pact between her and her lover. That is the tragic story of tile lt>-year-old Marcia Gutrtera, a pretty Italian girl, who, on Monday, was found killed at Lismore, a northern centre of New South Wales, in the same -room where Oreste de Martin, a well-to-do banana .farmer, shot himself through the heart.

Detectives were told a pathetic story regarding the girl’s career and fViends of the little hride, who was married ill such strange circumstances, have related how she once made a threat with a stiletto. She could barely- speak English and is said to have been very unhappy since her arilfival i;u Australia.

When Signorina Dalaio, the gtirl was married in an Italian church in August. 1931, and at the time her husband went through a similar ceremony in New South Wales. Several Haitian brides who have reached Australia lately have been similarly married by proxy. Eager and expectant, Marcia reached Australia on September 2, 1931, but according to reports made to the police she was very dissatisfied viith life here. Ip was not lung before she became- separated from her husband, the latter going to Victoria, and Marcia staying with her sisfei- at LV’smore. Later slie met do Martin who was a very handsome Ttul'ian a few years older than herself, and they became very friendly, Marcia went to bis farm some days before the tragedy and there wrote a final message before de Alar tin killed her and then shot himself. “Dearest sister”, Marcia's note read, “life is too much for me with this talk of scandal. 1 am ready to die, as to me it seonm the best way tint. I have agreed to die and we will go together.’’ Above this note de Martin had written: “My dearest brother,— 1 am tired of living and this is the last letter that T will be writing to you. People have been talking about us. and there can be no other way out.’

Shots were heard duAng the night and on Monday tho man and woman were found shot through the heart. The notes were written in Italian and were translated for the police by an Italian laborer. Both actors in the drama were well known and extremely -popular.