AN ENGLISH BRIDE'S TRAGIC END.

Otago Witness, Issue 2328, 13 October 1898, Page 55

AN ENGLISH BRIDE'S TRAGIC END.

A MYSTERY OF SORRENTO. The Italian judicial authorities are investigating the tragic death of a young English lady named Mrs Possel, whose dead body was found at the foot of the cliffs near Sorrento, after she had been out driving with her husband. The husband was arrested, but subsequently released, and the body of his wife was buried in the cemetery of Positano. Consequent, however, on certain statements by insurance officials it is now announced that the case is to be reopened by the Salerno tribunal, who have ordered the exhumation of the corpse. Mrs Possel, it appears, became acquainted with her husband in this way. Joseph Possel, who declared himself to be the Marquis de Gondeville, came to England ostensibly to study the language, and stayed as a paying guest at 61, Cliftonhill, St. Johns-wood, in the occupation of Mrs Beckett, the widow of a Bank of England official. The following narrative is given by the Daily Mail.: — " Miss Eleanor Beckett, living in the house with her widowed mother, soon fell in love with the dashing young Frenchman, and a former engagement of hers with a London gentleman was broken off. It was a courtship against which Miss Beckett's friends did all they could to persuade her. But the girl was completely infatuated with the Frenchman ; and although he was jealous, and was a man of violent temper at times, causing most painful scenes, he never lost tl'e absolute control he had obtained over the girl's affections. She sold a reversionary interest she possessed, realising £1400 for it, anil handed this money over to Possel in return for what he called a bond for £3000, payable on the death of his father. Then, at the end of March last, the j^tir were married at St. Augustine's, Kilburn. The couple went on the Continent, and while in Paris the insurance for over £10,000 (250,000f), payment of which is now refused, was effected on Mrs Possel's life, during the first week in July. By the middle of July they had reached Sorrento, and here they stayed at the Hotel Sirena, every day going out for drives. About the middle of July Mrs Po&sel wrote home to Mr Skeels, the London solicitor, giving him instructions to prepare her will. When out on these daily drives, Possel hired the vehicle, and always dispensed with the services of a driver. They journeyed together to Positano and the neighbouring picturesque spots, and would tarry for hours on the lovely road which leads along the huge granji^ cliffs, at the base of which, more than 200 ft below, the sea waves beat. During these excursions the attention of passers by was attracted more especially by the beauty of the lady, according to the Corriero di Napoli. Often the carriage containing the couple — whom everyone thought to be on exceedingly affectionate terms with each other — stopped at a spot called Pontanelle, about a mile from Positano. Possel would mount the parapet and gaze down on the abyss beneath, while the lady, seating herself on a heap of stones, would enjoy the Seabreeze. On July 21, the day of the tragedy, the pair drove all alone in the usual way, but Poseel returned to the hotel alone. ' Where is your wife? ' asked the hotelkeeper, as Possel volunteered no explanation. As to Possel's explanation of his wife's absence, there are conflicting reports. According to the Corriere di Napoli, Possel stated that the horse got the bit in its mouth, bolted, and pitched out his wife, who was hurled over the precipice or» to the sea-swept rocks. . . . Whatever the exact words were Possel used, it seems clear the hotelkeeper next asked him why he had not given information of the tragedy to the authorities. ' I will do so to-morrow,' replied Possel, as he moved off to his room. 'It is. too late now.' So repeats the Corriere di Napoli. But the hotelkeeper deemed it his duty to at once give information, and during the night the gendarmes started from Sorrento and arrived at 2 a.m. at the place on the cliffs where Mrs Possel had fallen, over. At this hour it was impossible to see the base of the cliffs, and it was too dangerous to make a descent in the darkness. The gendarmes went and advised the authorities in the neighbouring village of Positano. The news spread like lightning round about, and when the body of gendarmes returned to the cliffs at dawn they were accompanied by a huge crowd of the curious, who watched with horror the recovery of the poor lady's mangled corpse. Possel was arrested, but after being four days in custody was released." SUICIDE OF THE HUSIJAXD. Joseph Possel committed suicide in the Restaurant Durand, one of the fashionable restaurants of Paris, situated almost in front of the Madeleine. Ii was about 1 o'clock on the 25th August when he entered the restaurant and asked for a private room. To the maitre el'hotel he appeared a little nervous in his manner, but nothing to excite attention. He was well dressed and in deep mourning. He ordered a small luncheon and writing materials. Both the luncheon and writing materials were brought to him, and he was then left alone. When the waiter had retired he locked the door. Some time afterwards the report of a pistol was heard. The maitre d'hotol and waiters rushed to the room, which was on the first floor, the door was forced open, and Possel was found lying on the floor with a revolver in his right hand. He was bleeding from a wound over his right temple, the bullet having apparently passed right through tlie brain and out at the top of the skull. A doctor was summoned, who bound up-the man's head, but said there was no hope of saving his life. The Commissaire of Police also arrived on the scene, and by his direction Possel was removed to the Hospital Beaujon, where he lingered in an unconscious state for five hours. On a small taWe in the room in which Possel shot himiclf two letters were found. One was addressed "To my mother, Mme. Possel, Amiens," and the other to the Commissaire of Police in the district, M. Gavrelle. Mme. Possel was questioned by M. Gavrelle, but was unable to give any information about her son's motive for shooting himself. In the communication to M. Gavrelle (says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail) Possel said that he committed suicide because since the death of his wife ho had been subjected to '

odious attacks and accusations, and he coul# bear it no longer.