WOMAN AND VALENTINO.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16947, 9 November 1926, Page 8

WOMAN AND VALENTINO.

"THEY DID NOT MEET." PROTEST BY FILM STAIV'S FRIENDS The resumed inquest on Margaret Murray Scott (an actress known as Miss Peggy Scott), aged 27, who died from poisoning in a flat, in .lames Street, London, on August 24 last—the day after the death in New York of Mr Rudolph Valentino, Hie him star — ended in a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity. Dr. Gerald Roche Lynch, official analyst to the Home Office, who made an analysis of the contents of the stomach, said that death was caused by mercuric chloride, commonly known as corrosive sublimate. Inspector Dale, of Alarylebonc Dane Police Station, said that he had made exhaustive inquiries, but had not been able lo find any relative or children of the dead woman. The police had received a number of letters concerning ".Miss Scott," and inquiries had been made in Norfolk, Norwich, and Swindon, but nothing had been learned concerning her antecedents. Dr.. G. B. Scolt, in his summing- up, said that the question of the dead woman's association with Rudolph Valentino had been interesting the public mind, but the only evidence that there was any relationship between these two was contained in letters which were read at the last hearing. Dr. Scott then read Ihe following passages from the dead woman's letters:—"There is a lot I cannot tell you. No one will ever know that with iiis death my last bit of courage lias flown." "I feel that i have been stretched for years like a piece oC clastic. In 11)22. Rudolph 'helped me to carry on. He (old me a lot of his own sufferings, and perhaps it was only a mailer of lime before the clasllo snapped." "Please look after Rudolph's pictures. He has helped me over lots of stiles unknowingly." The letters told various details of Ihe woman's life, but she was evidently not very reliable as regards her history. \pparenllv she did not live a very useful life, and she was at the end of her financial resources. Alter their verdict had been recorded a woman who said she was Miss Rivers, of St. George's Road. Loudon, said Miss Scolt could not have met Rudolph Valentino in 1022, because lie was not in Europe at that time. Dr. Scott: One lias not associated her definitely with Rudolph Valentino. Miss Rivers: No, but unfortunately as he was a film actor people have always put the worst construction on it U\ one version to which publicity has been given it is stated that Miss Scott met Valentino in 1921 on board a yacht in Ihe Mediterranean. As a matter of fact Valentino at that time was at Hollywood engaged in making the film "The four Horsemen ol the i\pocalypse." He did not come lo England till July, 1923. He was accompanied by his wife, and she was with him the whole time he was over here. Inspector Dale, here stated that the letters received by the police showed that Miss Scolt was in Rome at the time when she was supposed lo have met the llhn actor at Biarritz.