A DISTRESSING SUICIDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2260, 24 June 1897, Page 21

A DISTRESSING SUICIDE.

A WELL-KNOWN YOUNG LADY POISONS HERSELF. On Saturday evening Miss Marion S. W. White, M.A., who resided with her two sisters in Bellevue Terrace, nearly opposite Kuox Church, Gaorge street, was found dead in her bed under circumstances which point to the conclusion that she took her own life. In the morning her sisters went by the south express train into the country for a holiday at Berwick, leaving Miss White alone iv the house. About half-past 7 p.m., a young man named Sbatham, whom she was coaching in his studies, called there and found a note under the door knocker addressed to himself. Oa reading the note h« ascertained that the writer desired him to gi for Mrs J. Wilkio and a doctor. He accordingly went to Mr? Wilkie and informed her of t&s contents of the letter. She thereupon sea* <&» Dr Macpherson to go to Miss White's house while she proceeded there at once herself. Tkm doctor on arriving at the place found that Mrs Wilkie had bean upstairs, and was under the impression that Miss White was very ill, but he saw at a glance that she was dead and had been so for an hour or two. Oa the chair beside the bed was a small hand mirror and a glass containing a few drops oE something in the nature of poison, and ib seemed evident that she had drunk whataver had been in the glass. A peculiar circumstance in connection with the affair is that the deceased had apparently made careful preparations for her death. She had taken off her clothiug, folded ib up, taken the counterpane off the bed, folded that, and then put ib over her clothing. She had also covered the washstand over with a white cloth, and had finally, lain down upon the bed with her bair flowing fthoub her shoulders. She was clad in her nightdress, and wjis covered by a sheet, while her fade wore a calm and peaceful expression. There were plenty of poisons in the houße, their presence being accouuted for by the f*cb that tha deceased studied chemistry. The doctor, however, was of opinion that death resulted from some powerful, quick-acting agent, and nob from any of the poisons among the deceased chemicals. It has transpired that on Saturday about noon the deceased went to a. chemist's shop, taking with her an order from a J.P., and purchased an ounce of prussic acid, and the bobtlo which had contained ib was empty. She had before taking the fatal draught written several letters, which were found in her desk. I -In one letter which wa? addressed to a medical j gentleman in town (Dr Colquhouo) she analysed her mental feelings ab the time at which she must have been premsditatiug the deed, and she stated in-ifc that Fate was,pursaing her aud she ffilt that she must die. Another lettej.-, which was addressed to a member of the legal profefisioD, contained explicit instructions as to how her wishes were to be complied with after death, andwfc also conveyed- pathetic farewell messages to some of her friends. The deceased young lady was last seen alive at about 5 o'clock on Saturday evening, when a Mrs Puobinson saw her in Mr Miller's grocery shop in George street. Mrs Robinson did not, however, speak to her. Miss White was about 28 years of age ab the time of her death, and De Colquhoun i 3 of opinion that her letter to hiai clearly indicated that she was not in her right mind when she wrote ib. Deceased had a brilliant educational career. At 13 years ot age She won a scholarship at a small school at Circle Hill, near Tokomairiro. She then attended the Danedin High School, and after b;ing there for two years won a senior scholarship. She subsequently obtained a university, scholarship, and iv the course of time got hec M.A.. degree with honours. Her university career being concluded, she devoted herself to teaching and coaching, and her services were much sought after. She was, in fact, overworked—the tuition she gave occupied her day and night, and she denied herself even tha usual teacher's holiday on Saturday,— and she j suffered lately from insomnia. She was latterly in the habit of cycling for the sake of the toni? which the exercise gave hsr, b,ut it is eviden* the pressure of work ultimately affected her brain. She was possessed of tibnsiderabla scholastic gifts and of high literary abilities, and in various contributuions she made to the press of this colony she showed a bright and inventive genius Her parents are both dead, but she had four sisters, two of whom she supported by her efforts.