PATHETIC LOVE TRAGEDY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12748, 20 April 1909, Page 2

PATHETIC LOVE TRAGEDY.

An Opposed Marriage.

A shocking tragedy occurred in Hobart last week. A young couple were aftectionately attached to each other, and had been engaged for some time, but opposition was met with to their marriage. In a fit of despair the girl took strychnine. She admitted to a policeman that she had taken strychnine. Constable Barker conveyed her with all haste to the general hospital. Everything possible was done for the unfortunate girl, but medical aid was unavailing, and she died within an hour or two of her admission. On her lover, whose name was Attwell, learning v of her death, he was terribly distressed, and made up his mind to die also. He openly threatened to poison himself.. Attwell was employed on the barge Eveline, lying at the Market Wharf. A young man named Miller did all he could to persuade him not to commit so rash a deed ; and, thinking the better plan to thwart- him was to endeavour to stop the sale of poison to him, left him, and in post-haste ran off to various chemists to warn them. One chemist whom he visited, told Miller that Attwell had been in three minuses before him, and asked for poison, but it was refused him. Miller had acquainted Sergeant Ward of Attwell's expressed intention to do away with himself, and that officer was at the barge Eveline when Miller returned from his errand shortly after 11 o'clock. Attwell had been successful in obtaining some strychnine and had swallowed sufficient to place himself in the greaest jeopardy. He was found lying on the Market Wharf in great pain, and in a dying condition.