LOVE TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOVE TRAGEDY.

£HE HOTEL PORTER AND THE CHAMBERMAID. Some remarkable evidence was given at the inquest held in St. Bartholomew's Hospital, a few days ago, on the body of Alfred Page, 29, a porter at the Prince of Wales' Hotel, Harrogate, who shot himself outside Snow Hill Police Station. Mr. Alfred Page, of Woodside, Angel Road, Harrow, said deceased was his son. For the past few months he had been engaged to Miss Ella Gould, a chambermaid at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel, but some few days ago she wrote to him breaking off the engagement. Witness identified the following letter, found on the body, as being in his son's handwriting: — My dear Father and Mother, — must not grieve for me, as I cannot help what I &m going to do. It is all for the love of a girl that lam doing it. I have had so many disappointments that I am tired of my life, so have onded it all. You must blame Ella (his fiancee), for what I have done. Do not fret after me.—Alfred. Miss Ella Gould, chambermaid at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel, said she had known deseased for about four months. She last saw dim alive on September 25, at Harrow, he having come down from Yorkshire to see her. Deceased told her that he had an invalid sister to keep, and she told him that that being so there was no prospect for her, and broke off the engagement. He told her he had a revolver, and that frightened her a bit. On the day of the tragedy he sent her a note at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel asking her to see him for a few minutes. She refused. The Coroner: Why? I was afraid he would shoot me. He had told me no one else should have me but him. The coroner read the following letter: — Holborn Viaduct Hotel, October 3. Mr. Alfred Page,l am writing to tell you once more I cannot like you any more, as your ways would not suit me. It is no use to be deceitful to you. I mean this letter to be the last, and it is no good telling you one thing and meaning another. Do not write any more, please, or think any more of me, as Ido not wish you to. 1 mean what I say to you.—Yours respectfully, Ella Gould. Death was shown to be due to a bulletwound in the head. The jury returned a verdict of " Suicide whilst temporarily insane."