SAVOY HOTEL TRAGEDY

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 19

SAVOY HOTEL TRAGEDY

AN ILL-ASSORTED COUPLE. A LIFE OF’ EXTRAVAGANCE. LONDON, July 15. Madame Fahmy (who is charged with the murder of her husband Ali Kernel Fahmy Bey) is receiving special attention in Holloway Prison, owing to the state of her health. The authorities are allowing her maid to attend her and to bring her necessaries. It is stated that Fahmy Bey lived at the rate of £IOO a day while in London, the greater part of the money being spent in jewels and on dress and pleasure. There were always elaborate and expensive luncheons, extravagant dinners, and theatre suppers and dances. In Paris Madame Fahmy was well known in social circles. Her real name was Marguerite Laurent, though she used the name of Maggie Meller. She was a constant attendant at fashionable watering resorts, where she always had a host of well-to-do men friends. She lived extravagantly, and was well supplied with money. Four years ago in Venice she married the son of a wealthy Paris departmental store owner, but frequent differences resulted in a divorce after six months. It is stated that the differences between herself and Fahmy Bey were due to his ideas and traditions of the harem and the veil. He was often angrily intolerant of many harmless pranks in which madame, like many other F rench wives, felt justified in indulging in. OPENING OF THE TRIAL. LONDON, July 18. Marie Fahmy appeared at the Bow Street Police Court on a charge of murdering her husband, “Prince” F'ahmy Bey, at the Savoy Hotel some days ago. Counsel for the prosecution said the accused admitted shooting Fahmy Bey. He had been threatening her, and when he advanced towards her in the corridor she pointed her revolver and pulled the trigger several times. Defending counsel stated that he would contest the translation of the statement and submit that the accused actually said that Fahmy Bey threatened to kill her. The deceased’s secretary, in crossexamination, denied that Fahmy Bey knocked his wife about on the day of the marriage. July 20. Madame Fahmy has been committed for trial. She presented a piteous spectacle as she left the dock, stumbling in the arms of the women warders.