A DEATH COMPACT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16572, 3 November 1921, Page 7

A DEATH COMPACT.

FOUR PEOPLE AGREE TO DIE STRANGE TRACEDY IN LONDON. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. United Service. (Received November 3, 9.20 a.m.) I/ON DON. November 1. The 11 Daily Mail” states that Coates, a victim in tho Streatham tragedy, was recently charged and remanded on a charge of misappropriating £290. He and his wife and daughter entered into a solemn compact to die rather than face disgrace. They resolved that the son should die first. It is believed lie knew nothing of the death compact. All four sat down to the last meal, which was of chicken and champagne. 'The poisoned wine was first handed to th© son, who died immediately after drinking it. The body was reverently laid on the bed. Then the remaining three prepared to die by their own hands. The women put on their prettiest night-dresses. Tho daughter drank first. When she died, her parents placed her on the bed with her hands crossed. Then the mother laid herself on the bed and drank, and her husband arranged her for death, and turned sideways so that lie could take a last look as he was dying. Then he lay down himself and took the fatal drink. A previous message stated :—Poisoned champagne is believed to be the cause of a tragedy in the most fashionable quarter of Streatham. The bodies of Ernest Coate3, an engineer, his wife, the latter’s unmarried daughter. Mrs Townsend, and her son, Henry Mami, by a previous marriage, were found locked in a maisonette. Coates wrote three letters, including one to the coroner, which led to the police forcing an entry. A maid employed by Coates states that she was sent away for the week-end. The neighbours state that the deceased were of eccentric habits, and lived secluded lives. The father was a prosperous engineer. The mother was a Spanish woman, who once was nurse to King Alfonso. Her daughter had been an actress. The family never drank wine. They purchased the champagne specially on Saturday. The poison used was cyanide of potassium.