AN ACTRESS'S DESPAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10972, 28 January 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN ACTRESS'S DESPAIR.

SAD SUICIDE OF MISS KATIE GRAVES.

A voixu actress mimed Miss Katie Graves committed suicide at her parents' home, 101, Cornwall Road, Westbourne Park. Deceased was only 34 years af age, and her professional career was full of promise. For three years she took part with Mr. Penley in the production of " Charley's Aunt," and has also appeared at Drury Lane. Lately she had suffered considerably from melancholia, and her friends did their best to cheer her, but die did not improve, although, as far as is known, there was nothing to sadden her life. The depression increased, and there was no improvement, even after she had accepted an engagement to appear as " principal boy" in the Manchester Theatre Royal pantomime. On the morning of her death Miss Graves was to have gone to Manchester. She ordered breakfast for 8.30 and a cab for 10.20. As she did not come downstairs at the appointed time the servant knocked at her bedroom door. There was no response, and her father was informed. He at once burst open the door, and entering the dressing - room found that his daughter had hanged herself near the window. He cut the rope and sent for Dr. Wilkin, of Talbot Road, but life was already extinct. Mr. Graves has many friends in the profession, and when Mr. William Terriss was murdered in December, 1897, Mr. Graves seized the assailant, Trince, and handed him over to the police. Mr. Luxmore Drew, the West London coroner, held an inquest at the Kensington Town Hall on the body of Miss Graves. Mr. John Henry Graves said deceased was his daughter, She had been a successful actress for a number of years. She had frequently threatened to commit suicide, her only motive, seemingly, being that she was no good in the world.' She had been engaged to a gentleman much younger than herself, and, acting on the advice of witness and some friends she had broken the match off. This was recently. About three years ago she attempted to take her life by laudanum poisoning. The day she was to have left home for Manchester her bedroom door was found locked. An entry being effected, deceased was discovered hanging by a piece of rope Her feet were strapped together. Mrs. Kopke, a friend of deceased's, said deceased, although cheerful, was a little nervous and frightened as to whether she would prove a success in the pantomimo The jury returned a verdict of " Suicide during temporary insanity," and expressed their deep sympathy with deceased's family