DIED IN POVERTY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 283, 14 November 1929, Page 7

DIED IN POVERTY

PRINCESS VICTORIA’S END

DEATH HASTENED BY GRIEF EX-KAISER RECONCILED, (United Preu Association—By CableCopyright.) (Received 14, 11.40 a.m.) Berlin, Nov. 13. Princess Victoria died a bankrupt within a week of the serving of divorce papers on the dish-washer, Zoubkoff, who is held largely responsible for her tragic end. Death was due to pneumonia, but her illness was accentuated by grief. There were no relatives present, merely a few personal attendants. Sbo became more or less unconscious yesterday morning and did not rally. Her last words were spoken in tho English language which she always used whenever possible. Her end, which came after hours of suffering, was peaceful. The Grand Duchess of Hessen, her second sister, who called for the first time on Sunday, remained the whole of Monde”, when there was a reconciliation iIT -r the separation caused by the unfortunate marriage. The last day or two tho ex-Kaiser, who had been outraged by the events, relented and made frequent telephonic enquiries. The doctors stated that the ex-Kaiser would have visited her but for political obstacles.

Princess Victoria of SchaumbergLippe married M. Zoubkoff on November 20, 1927. She was born in 1866, but when engaged declared that sho felt as if she were only twentyfive, and that was the mam thing. Very fond of sport, she took long walks, played tennis, swam and danced, besides accompanying her fiance on the pillion of his motorcycle. Numerous relatives besought her to abandon her “disastrous decision,” notably the ex-Queen of Greece and the ex-Crown Prince Wilhelm. The ex-Kaiser, who had at first given his consent to the marriage. later withdrew it under the influence of public opinion, and declared that he would break off relations with her. The wedding took place at the municipal offices in Bonn, the Lutheran Church having refused to allow the ceremony to be performed there owing to the disparity in age between tho couple. Next day tho religious service took place in the palace according to the Russian Orthodox rites. The pair then set off on their honeymoon on a motor-cycle. A fortnight later Zoubkoff was seriously injured by being thrown from his machine. Extraordinary rumours as to his conduct appeared in the German press, but the truth of these was denied by the Princess. Ever since the marriage and, for that matter, ever since the engagement was announced, it was evident that powerful influences were at work against M. Zoubkoff, and every effort has been made to get him out of the country. Some months ago the Princess used the columns of “Acht Uhr Abeublatt to declare that “there was no truth on the alleged financial transactions by which I have lost money, and tho alleged clouding over of my marriage is also devoid of all truth. I know nothing of a dissolution of my marriage or of tho appointment of a guardian of my affairs. These asser tions can emanate only from a quarter which has definite, but to me unintelligible, interest in the ruining of my affairs. I protest against my private life being made the object of public discussion in this scandalous' manner.” She recently went bankrupt.

SUDDEN DEATH.

MR. JV. J. KELLY, The sudden death of Mr. William John Kelly, who was found dead on the lawn outside Wellman's apartments, in Nelson street, Hastings, yesterday, shortly after noon, will be learnt throughout the Hastings and Napier districts with sincere sorrow.

Mr. Kelly’s family were well known in Clive, where they resided for many years, and the deceased gentleman himself was highly esteemed for his kindliness, straightforwardness and simplicity of character, which endeared him to all who knew him. He was ,born in Auckland 65 years ago, when his parents w'ere amongst the early pioneers, but he came to Hawke’s Bay some 40 years ago, taking up his residence at Clive, where he owned property as he also did in Hastings. His wife predeceased him by some years, and he leaves a grown-up family of two sons—Messrs W. Kelly, of tho staff of Williams and Kettle Ltd.. Napier, and Mr. T. H. Kelly, of the staff of Newton King Ltd., New Plymouth—and two daughters, Mrs P. Shadbolt and Miss Imelda Kelly of Hastings, with whom general sympathy is expressed. The funeral will leave Mrs P. Shadbolt’s residence. Kaiapoi Road, Hastings to-morrow (Friday) at 2 p.m. for tho Hastings cemetery. THE INQUEST. An inquest was held in Hastings this morning relating to the death of Mr Kelly. The Acting Coroner (Mr A. A. George) presided, and the following jury was empanelled : —Messrs R. Baker (foreman), R. Horsefield, W. Gebbie, S. Taylor, and W. McAleese. Sergeant Doggett represented the police. Dr. J. A. Macdonnell stated that ho found the body of tho deceased lying on a bed. Death was duo to haemorrhage of either the stomach or the bowels. The deceased had been advised by another doctor to be very careful. The deceased was a poor eater and probably suffered from a gastric ulcer, which would have caused the haemorrhage. A severe attack of dysentery might cause a haemorrhage. Witness was of the opinion that the internal haemorrhage was a severe one, and undoubtedly the. cause of death. The attack was suddei and unexpected. Witness knew that the deceased had an objection to consulting medical practitioners.

William J. S. Kelly, son of the deceased, said ho did not know his father had been ill. Witness lived in Napier. Some years ago the deceased had suffered from an attack of internal haemorrhage. The decease/ had bsqu Jiving a icjired and

quiet life for the past ten years. He had no financial worries that witness knew of.

George J. Wellman, proprietor of an apartment house at which the deceased had lived for the past 18 months, said that during the past six months the deceased had not been in the very best of health. He had mentioned that he had visited a doctor in Napier, but never made any complaint. At the time of his collapse it would seem that he was making his way back from the lavatory. It was obvious that he had had a sudden attack of internal haemorrhage. Constable T. McCall gave formal evidence of finding the body of the deceased lying on the lawn and moving it to the morgue. The jury returned a verdict of death due to natural causes.

DEATH OF MRS EDITH SHARP. The inquiry into the circumstances relating to the death of Mrs Edith Sharp, who was found dead in her bed in Hastings on Tuesday night, wag opened this morning when the acting-Coroner, Mr. A. A. George, J.P., presided over a jury of Messrs R. Baker (foreman), R. Horsefield, W. Gebbie, S. Taylor and W. McAleese. Sergeant G. R. Doggett represented the police. Dr. R. Kitchen, in evidence, stated that he was called to the house at 9.45 o’clock in the evening. Ho found the body of Mrs Sharp lying on tfie bed and life had been extinct for about six hours. The position of the body was unusual. An external examination did not show that there was any violence. The cause of death, it appeared to witness, was brought about by some unknown outside cause. He had attended the deceased during the past two years. She suffered headaches every two weeks, until she underwent an operation and then her health improved until a fortnight ago, when sho had another attack. Prior to the operation the heart was examined. The heart appeared to be sound. The drawn-up position of the body would not suggest that death was from natural causes. There was no sign of poison in the room. There was a glass on the dressing table, but there was nothing to suggest that it had contained poison. To the foreman, the witness stated that if the attacks of biliousness and headaches were to come on regularly again then she was due for another attack about the time of death. These attacks were very- severe.

Dr. D. A. Bathgate stated that he conducted a post-mortem examination of the body and found a small abscess present in the right kidney, and some adhesion to the abdominal walls. The stomach was very much distended and was filled with a dark bile-stained fluid. All the other organs were sound, with the exception of the heart, which showed -degenerate changes of the muscles. The condition of the heart would have been very difficult to detect in life. A ery little effort or excitement might have, at any time, caused death in the case of the deceased. He could not say without a chemical analysis that no poison had been taken. The postmortem examination revealed no trace of poison. John B. Sharp, son of tho deceased, stated that he last saw his mother about 1 p.m. on Tuesday She then appeared to be better than she had been for some time. On returning from work later in the day he found that the doors had been locked from the inside. Witness climbed through a bedroom window, and surmising that his mother had gone out, he had his tea and went to bed. Later in the evening Mrs Satterthwaite, who had been staying at the house, called witness and found that his mother’s bedroom door was locked. Witness looked through the window and saw his mother lying on the bed. He broke the catch ami entered the room to find her dead. Mrs A. J. Satterthwaite, who had been staying with the deceased, gave similar evidence to the son. She added that the deceased usually had a brown leather handbag, but there was no trace of this. The deceased had complained of her heart a good many times. The day previous to her death the deceased had been digging in tho garden and afterwards complained of feeling tired. The deceased never threatened to take her own life but was worried over her husband's bankruptcy. John Brian, father of the deceased, stated that his daughter was bright and fond of her children. After a short retirement the jury expressed the opinion that the inquest should be adjourned until, the result was known of the analysis of the stomqch contents. This course was adopted.