POISONED HERSELF

NZ Truth, Issue 568, 6 May 1916, Page 8

POISONED HERSELF

Young New Zealand Woman's Suicide Facts Adduced at an Inquest m Sydney •1 Am Better Dead" The suicide of an unfortunate yo\jig woman, Olive Annie Becker, scarcoly nineteen years of agre, who, finding herself m a hopeless financial and physical condition, chose to- end her sea of troubles by poison— ozonising, yet brief —was inquired into by the City Coroner at Sydney, a couple of weeks bade The victim was a young woman of no moo tip and no occupation, »as +a* as can be ascertained, and with no relations who cared for her nearer than New Zealand. Alvenia Howard, an elderly woman, of • Klien-road, North Parramatta, said she was the mother of Olive's husband, Otto Peter Walter Becker, a plumber, whom Olive would not stay with. She was' • •"■ . ■.;■•■;"' - ■ .'. -.• ; TOO FOND OP OTHER MEN. She was only nineteen years old, and was born at J>annevirke, New Zealand, where her parents still resided. About two years ago, at Auburn, the girl attempted to commit suicide by drinking a concoction of "rough on rats" poison. Marie Patrick, a slender young girl, and married to a soldier, said her correct name was Brogden, and she lived at 126 Commonwealth-street She first became acquainted with Olive Beckerabout clx weeks ago, being introduced to her m Georgeistreet. Olive asked her if she would like to live with her, and she signifying ier willingness, they occupied rooms at different places for a night' pr two? find then found a room -vacant at 126 Commonwealth-street. Here they remained four weeks, her companion being ill nearly the whole time. A week before she died she went to the Women's Hospital at Paddington, and was there given an. order to go to the Prinoe Alfred Hospital. She accompanied deceased to the Prince Alfred Hospital on April 10, but there the superintendent said \ THERE WAS NO ROOM, and gave her a prescription and an order for a lotion. On the way back from the hospital deceased collapsed In the tram, and was then conveyed by the Civil Ambulance to the Women's Hospital, where she was, admitted" and kept there until next day. On Wednesday morning the young woman returned to her room, saying that she was incurable, and would like to go home to her mother to die. About 1 pun.., she left deceased m the room, and went out for luncheon, and on returning a Kittle after two o'clock she discovered that the girl had poisoned herself. Deceased sometimes partook of liquor, but was withal temperate, and many a, ome ohe had been heard to wish herself dead. Alfred G. Sayera, a cleaner at Her Majesty's Theatre, living m Common-weolth-fitreot, said that deceased and tho young woman Patrick had rented a front room downstairs at his house for the past month. He recollected that deceased was away GETTING HOSPITAL. ATTENTION for a week, and retimed on April 11. However, he did not see her that day until he discovered her, about two o'clock, lying on the floor of tho diningroom, evidently very lit Sh» murmured, "Mamma,** and begged 4 drink of water. When he found at» had taken poison, ho gave her an emetic of salt and water, which caused a her to vomit greatly. He telephoned /for Dr. Slattary, who came quickly, but the young woman was dead ere he 1 reached I the bouse. In deceased's room was found a tumbler on the floor, with some i white sediment adhering- to the inside, 1 and also a packet labelled* Tolaon: salts of lemon." Sergeant Young came and took charge of the body and the poison. ..'....'■. Sergeant David Young said he reached the house at a quarter-past 2 pan. on April 12, and found Bayers and Patrick standing near th© body of the girl, which was lying on the dining-room floor. Besides the poison he found a lotter addressed to Marie Patrick, reading: ■ . * Wednesday. Dear Little Pal,— l am sorry that you did not keep my secret, but I suppose you meant good, dear. * There is only one thing left to me now. That is death. I am dreadfully sorry I have caused you and everybody so much trouble. I hop© you will forgive me, Marie. I will not find it hard to die. Good-bye, dear little pal Your used to be friend, . , OLTVR On the other side was written: H L. StUlweil Ormondviile, New Zealand, Send fare at once. — Ollvo, 126 Com-monwealth-street, Sydney." Prom this it looked as though deceased had first thought of wiring to her mother for THE NECESSARY MONEY to take her across, but had changed her mind Immediately afterward*. Another letter addressed to Mrs. 8StUwell, OrmondviUe, New Zealand, ran: ! Good-bye, Munurie, darling. Fori give me for taking my own life; but I am better dead. — Olive Dr. M. /. Slattary, of College-street, said th© girl was dead on his reaching th© noose, and, m his opinion, she died from poisoning. The Coroner found that Olive Annie Becker had died from, polsening. Administered by herself.