SUICIDE AT THEATRE

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 31

SUICIDE AT THEATRE

ACTRESS SHOOTS HERSELF. LONDON, June 18. Mile. Regine Flory, the French actress and dancer, who shot herself last week, dined cheerfully at the Savoy Hotel, where she conversed with theatrical friends. She then walked to Drury Lane Theatre to keep an appointment with Sir Alfred Butt, the chairman of directors, with whom she was to discuss her expectation of a prominent part. Walking into Sir Alfred’s private room, the actress coquettishly arranged her hair, powdered her face, and finally glanced at her evening dress and her jewellery. She agitatedly conversed with Sir Alfred Butt, and suddenly drew a revolver from her bag and fired. She fell on a settee, mumbling incoherently, and was taken to the Charing Cross Hospital, but was dead on arrival there. . At the inquest a doctor gave evidence that there ere hypodermic punctures in deceased’s thigh. It was stated that she had signified her suicidal intentions if she failed to realise her ambition of securing a big stage contract in London. Her real name was Marie Louise Artaz, and she was 34 years of age. The evidence indicated that deceased was addicted to drugs, and was vainly trying to break the habit. She was the heroine of various love affairs, the last with a French dramatist, who followed her to London after a quarrel. The deceased’s suicidal tendencies, despite her excellent financial position and prominence on the French stage, prompted Sir Alfred Butt to telegraph to the customs officials 'o search her at Croydon after landing from a cross-Channel aeroplane. No weapon was found, however Pierre Samani, a French ile+ ve, gave evidence that in Paris Mile Flory was frequently out all night, and returned depressed and unable to sleep during the flay. On these occasions she reiterated her threat of suicide. She bought a revolver, stating her intention to seek an engagement in London, and to commit suicide if she failed. The witness inferred that Mile Ulorv proposed the interview with Sir Alfred Butt. He thought that it was desirable to warn Sir Alfred, and preceded Mile Flory to London. Sir Alfred instructed him to shadow Mile Flory. “I stood 'ehind the door, with my hand on the handle,” he said, “ready to enter at the least sign of Mile Flory getting excited. Everything was normal, and then there was a sudden quiet. Then I heard the shot.” Sir Alfred uiutt gave evidence that Mile Flory had an exotic temperament, but when she entered the room she calmly doffed her fur coat, sat casually on the arm of a chair, and spoke rationally and coolly. She complained that she was unable to live in her usual style owing to the depreciation of the franc. Deceased discussed a projected American engagement at £375 a week, and witness told her that when she returned she would become a millionairess by converting the dollars into francs. He told her that he was unable to ofPer her a London engagement. Suddenly there was a terrible and appalling explosion, and he saw her falling to the floor. The coroner returned a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind. He said it was a strange story of a' strange woman who lived an extraordinary life. Such people, :f the> did not get what they wanted, having unbalanced minds, like spoiled children, sulked and shot themselves in a fit of pique. Mile Flory’s associates describe her as a bored, life-weary victim of the artistic temperament, and every inch a Parisienne. They recall that she created the English vogue for flesh-coloured stockings because a French friend of hers owned a stocking factory.