A ROMANTIC SUICIDE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7179, 14 January 1892, Page 2

A ROMANTIC SUICIDE.

* The Melbourne correspondent of the Dunedin Evening Star, under date Jan. 6, writes -.— A Grange suicide took place in Melbourne last week. The deceased was Miss Selina Palmer, aged twenty- five, a lady-help in the household of Mr Alfred Dttnipier, oft theatrical fame, and she is said to have poisoned herself on account of an unrequited attachment conceived for a scenic artist, who was recently engaged at the Alexandra Theatre, and is now about to ■ proceed to America, On Monday afternoon of last week Miss Lily Dam pier, while passing the deceased's bedroom, heard sounds of vomiting, and upon entering discovered the occupant of the room reclining on the bed and gasping for breath. Asked the cause of her illness, she replied : " Oh, lam so wicked. You will never forgive me. I took some poison at eleven o'olock this morning, to end my miserable life." For the moment Miss Dampier could not realise the gravity of the position, but as soon aa she ascertained that the girl had really swallowed a quantity of an arsenical preparation she sent fur Or M'Gibbon, and the usual remedies were applied. She grew rapidly worse, howecer, and Mr Dampier called in Dr Neild in coußultation, and procured the services of a skilled nurse. The deceased had been for five yearß in Mr Dampier's family, by the members of which she was very highly esteemed, and everything conceivable was done to alleviate her Bufferings, and, if possible, avert a fatal termination; but, despite the attention of the medical attendants, she gradually sank, and died in great a irony sixteen hours after the poison had been token. At the inquest Mr Alfred Tisohbauor,. sconic artist,, employed at the Alexandra Theatre, deposed that he knew Miss Palmer, and met her for the last time on Sunday, Deo. 27, in the street near Mr Dampier's house. He did not see her afterwards, or bear from her till Monday night, when he received a letter written to him by her which should have been delivered to him in the morning. The letter read as follows : — My Darling.— For so I may call you for this once. You know on Saturday night you asked me if I hadsaid aDytbing about you, and I said No. I was afraid to tell you that I had said that you bad asked me to go away with you [to America!. I knew you would be angry and cast me off for ever, but now I tell you I expect no mercy at your b&nds. I littlo thought when we parted last night that it would be the last time on this earth I should see the face I love so well, for I have done what you would do were you in the sumo- difficulty. God forgive me for it. but I cannot live without yon, so I must die. Send me aline back quickly by tho messenger, just to tell me youdo not curne mov Only Bay you will forgive me and I shall leave this world?happy. God bless you. my dear love. Good-bye. Tours for to-da.y,. but after.wards I shall, I suppose, belong to God.— Tour poor loßfe SEMtfA. P:S.— I wsb to leave- next Monday, but I go to my God to-day. Oh., God ! It is so hard to die, and life with you seems bo happy. The Coroner: Did Miss- Palmer ever give you reason to suppose she was of unsound mind P — No. The letter appears to indicate that your relations with her were intimate. Wai that co ?— Yes. Was there any love between you P— Only on her part. I never mad» love to her, and I only met her from time to time. Was there any unpleasantness on the occasion when she last saw you ? — No, Do you know of anything which was ikely. to have prompted her to kill herself ? — No ; I know of no reason, adequate or inadequate, for such an action on her part. Was it true that you were going away P —No. After your last meeting did she showany signs of great emotion ?— No, none whatever. Miss Lily Dampier, in the course of her evidence, said that Mr Tisohbauer had often visited her father's houee, but not lately. The Coroner : Were you aware of any attachment between Mi'sb Palmer and Mr Tischbauer ?— No. When she spoke of him I thought she did so in terms suggestive of disparagement rather than affection. The Jury returned a verdict of " Selfdestruction whilst of unsound mind."