A SERVANTS SUICIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

A SERVANTS SUICIDE.

PATHETIC LETTERS READ AT THE INQUEST. Johanna Johnson- was a handsome young housemaid, who lived at The Elms, Oundle, near Northampton, and she was engaged, as related at the inquest into her death, to Arthur Gould, an insurance agent, of Stamford. Gould had written to his sweetheart, telling her that he " had ceased to pray to God." This distressed the girl, and when he visited Oundie she begged him oil parting to keep on saying his prayers. She had been cvcling, and on returning to The Elms she called out "Good-bye" to a fellowseivant, after running upstairs to change he'- dress. As she made no appearance, the groom burst open the door. The girl was lying dead, fully dressed, on the bed, with some letters, a bunch of faded violets, and a bottle of poison beside her. Ono letter, in the girl's handwriting, ran: — My dear Parents, and Brothers and Sis-ters-When yon get this I shall bo cold. I have m»ii Arthur to-day. It is for Ins sake that I suffer this. Be kind to him. I cannot live in nn'inppiiicss, It is my wish Ins ring is not removed from my finger. Please bury his letters and photos with me. Oil. tell him to be Jiappv and forget me. You must all try to do that. Never put any (lowers on my crave No. let grass and weeds cover mo. Good-live to you all.-Your unhappy daughter, JOHANNA. A second letter was addressed to " Dearest Arthur,'' and informed him that he had i ever any reason to bo jealous of her. The letter proceeded: — You have never prospered with the help of God. What do you expect to do without It. You sav yours is a hard lot. Do you expect to have good health and to get on m the world going oil as you are doing? lon do not know how unhappy I have been since receivin, your letter in which you tool mo you had ceased to pray to God. Why have you done this? I know von put the blame on mo. lint now I am gone you must look up in the world, and try to live a brighter and holier life It is my wish. So now I ask yon. Arthur dear, to forget such an unhappy girl as I and try to live a hotter life. You will see. Arthur, dear, that the ring you gavo mo ib not removed from my finger: also that your live photos and all your letters are buried with me. I pray that God will forgive me for mv rash act, What I suffer is cheerfully for VOHI- sake. Now. Arthur, dear. Illy heart is too full to writo you more. Good-bye. God bless you and comfort you.—Your brokenhearted lover, JOHANNA.

Among other letters and papers found in the room was a palmistry delineation bearing the following: — PALMISTRY. Long lino of life. . Troublesomo lovo affairs. (This was heavily underlined.! Married rather late in lifo. Fairly good lino of bead. More'wealth than health. Fair amount of happiness. Three children to liveMay have ten. An insurance agent, named Gould, of Stamford, said lie hud been engaged In deceased for eighteen months. There had been some unpleasantness, but the quarrel was not serious. , ~, A verdict was relumed of "Suicide while temporarily insane.