SUICIDE OF HEIRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20456, 8 November 1934, Page 5

SUICIDE OF HEIRESS.

Society Woman Found Dead in Country Home. “LIFE IS UNTIDY." LONDON, September 24. The tragedy of a beautiful heiress who was found shot dead in her country house at Woodchurch, a few miles from here, bears striking resemblance to the case of the bridesmaid, Miss Mary Peel, granddaughter of the first Viscount Peel, who ended her life in similar circumstances recently. The heiress was Mrs Peggy Amath Ballard Meglaughlin, aged thirty-two the wife of Mr John Greenacre Meg laughlin, and it was revealed at the inquest that she shot herself after re turning from a holiday in Scotland late on Friday night. It is a pathetic coincidence thal barely two years ago Mrs Meglaughlin j was herself a radiant bridesmaid a I the wedding at St Mark’s, North Aud | ley Street. Mayfair, of Miss Margare - Traey-Simpson and Mr Vladimir Wer ner, only son of Mr and Mrs A. Wer I ner, of Nice. Lord Bethell’s daugh i ter, the lion Phyllis Bethell, was the chief bridesmaid.

No motive for the tragedy was sug gested, and the coroner. Major Eri< Clarke, recording a verdict of suicid< while temporarily insane, commentec on the number of unexplained suicide: that have occurred recently. Mrs Meglaughlin left behind twc notes, one to her father. Mr Henn Wilson, a wealthy New Zealand news paper owner, and the other to Mr: Irene Empingham Cunningham Pey ton, of Blandford Street, W., he: closest friend. To her father she wrote: “ Daddy, darling,—l don’t want tc make life more untidy than it is. For give and thank you, Pegs.” The letter to Mrs Peyton, known tc the family as “Reno.” ran: “ Reno, darling,—Forgive, if yoi

can, and thank you, Pegs. Tell Freda, please, and Jock Stephen.” Like Miss Peel, who shot herself for no apparent reason, Mrs Meglaughlin had wealth and happiness. Week-end Party. She arrived from Scotland in excellent health and spirits, and her return was celebrated with a little dinner party at Mrs Peyton’s house. Mr Meglaughlin. who met his wife in London, was present, and, after dining, the party motored to Woodchurch, where it was proposed they should spend a pleasant week-end. Within fifteen minutes of her homecoming Mrs Meglaughlin was Lying dead on her bed with a bullet through her right temple. She was fully dressed and was clasp- , ing in her right hand a small revolver belonging to her husband, which she had taken from a drawer in their bed- - room. i The news of the tragedy came as a profound shock in London society : circles, in which Mr and Mrs Meglaughi lin were very popular. t An intimate ' friend of the family said: “Mr and Mrs Meglaughlin were t married at St Paul's Church. Portman - Square, nine years ago. It was a - fashionable wedding and was attended - by manv well-known people. i “ Mr Meglaughlin’s father is interested in mines in Africa, and every win- - ter-Mr and VMrs Meglaughlin visited - him. They were due to leave shortly ; for another trip. 1 “Mr Meglaughlin was keenly looking 5 forward to his wife’s return from her holiday, and when they met in London ) on Friday there was an affectionate r reunion. * His wife was one of the happiest 5 women I ever knew. She was always full of fun, and loved to get about on r her. husband’s farm, which surrounds their house. “ Tf there was one thing in her life ) which I think she regretted it was the - fact that she had no children. Nobody can offer any explanation for the > tragedy. She had everything a woman could wish for. and was heiress_ to a 1 considerable fortune.”