Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Monday 26 October 1868, page 3


SUICIDE OF MADEMOISELLE MARIE ST.

DENIS.

WE take the following from the Evening Star of Saturday i—

It is our painful duty to record the sudden death of this young and rising actress; at half-past nine o'clock this morning; at her residence at Jolimont. It appears that she left the dinner table yesterday evening at about seven o'clock; and on retiring to her own room took laudanum. Doctors James and Neild were sent for as soon as her condition was discovered, but all their attempts to overcome the effects of the poison were ineffectual. The unfor tunate young lady's real name was Alice Maes. She was the daughter of French and English parents, and came to this colony with her mother,

and brother about six years ago, and was for some, time settled at Clunes as a school teacher. She left Clunes for Geelong, where she was a governess, and on coming to Melbourne, failing to obtain employ ment, turned her attention to literature, but.without success, She then turned her attention to the stage, and under the instructions of Mr Hoskins made, her first appearance at the Haymarket, and after; wards at the Royal. Her progress was rapid, and her acting in Juliet to Mr Walter Montgomery's Romeo took playgoers with surprise. It was under stood that she would take an engagement at the Duke of Edinburgh with Mr Roberts, but negotia tions were broken off in consequence of a difference

about terms.

At the inquest which was held on Saturday the following evidence was given :—

Mrs Bellman deposed that the deceased lodged with her on several occasions. She had been in apparently good spirits for the last week, and was playing and singing all yesterday afternoon. She left the dinner table yesterday evening at seven o'clock, complaining of headache, and went to her room. Witness went to her room after dinner, and

found her in bed. Deceased asked witness to leave

a light, and said that she wanted to be quiet. Went back to her room at ten o'clock, and thought she was dreaming, as she gave a sort of hysterical sob. Witness spoke to deceased, and got no answer. Waited a little longer, when she commenced to breathe heavily. Witness then tried to wake de ceased, but getting no answer pulled her over on her side. It then struck witness that deceased was in a fit, Sent for Dr Neild and Dr James. Found a letter on her table, upon which was written, "To be opened at my death." This letter was addressed to me. The doctors came at once, and remained with her until she died this morning at about nine

o'clock.

Dr Neild stated that he was called to visit de

ceased a little after ten o'clock last night, and gave evidence of having used every proper measure in order to save the life of the deceased, but without effect. He found in her bedroom a three-ounce bottle, labelled "laudanum," containing about an ounce of the drug. It was probable that deceased had taken two ozs. Deceased had attempted suicide by taking laudanum three months ago, and witness attended her on that occasion. Believed that de ceased died of taking a poisonous dose of laudanum.

Henry Travers, chemist, of Bourke-street, deposed that he had known deceased for some time. She had been in the habit of dealing with him for drugs for the last two or three years. On Wednesday last deceased went to witness and bought two ounces of

laudanum. She said she wanted it, for uterine

injections ; and as witness knew she was using injec tions containing sedatives, he had; no hesitation in selling her the laudanum. Her manner was the same

as usual. Witness did not know that she had ever

attempted to poison herself before.

The verdict of the jury was that " Alice Hyacinthe Jacqueline Marie Maes, otherwise St Denis, poisoned herself with laudanum on the 23rd inst, and died on the 24th inst."

Copy of a letter found in hands fi deceased:—' My dear doctor—I have killed myself—taken laudanum— but please do all in your power to prevent an inquest. I have written to my mother telling her so; also to Mrs Bellman and Mr Barnard, Those are the only people who would be likely to suspect anything from such a sudden exit. They will do all they can to pre vent all inquest (at least I have asked them), and an no one will interfere with you, I beg if ever you had the smallest feeling of regard for me, that you will give an undertaker's certificate, saying I died from any cause you like to mention; but, for God's sake, avoid an inquest. No one but those I have mentioned know, or must, know, that I have committed suicide Now, please, doctor, oblige me in this ; it cannot signify to you, and only fancy my body cut up and

hacked to pieces. Please prevent it. Thanking you

sincerely for all your kindness to me during our short but pleasant acquaintance, I beg you to grant my last request as the crowning favor.—MARIE."

THE REMOVAL OF JUDGE MACOBOY—The

Maryborough Advertiser of Wednesday states that the rumored removal of Judge Macoboy to another district was the occasion of a public meeting being held at Carisbrook on Tuesday evening, at which a memorial to the Minister of Justice was adopted. The principal objections to His Honor's removal

are thus referred to in the memorial:—"That His Honor's judicial decisions have at all times given the' greatest satisfaction, and that instances in which they have been reversed on appeal to the higher courts, are most rare, and comparatively unknown. 2 That the knowledge which His Honor has acquired of the character and resources of the district, enables him, by a ready apprehension of facts, to save loss of time, expense, and trouble, to Her Majesty's subjects; by the efficient and rapid discharge of his important and onerous duties. 3 That your memorialists are of opinion that the proposed change would entail unnecessary hard

ship upon His Honor, by loss of property and health, and inconvenience to the public."

The Melbourne Cup.—From the Evening Star of Saturday we learn that, despite the number of horses that gallopped that morning, and the numerous muster to look at them, betting has been very slack " under the clock," and the changes but nominal. The only item of positive racing intelligence, uncou-nected with the Cup, is that Caledonia has gone amiss, and that the bookmakers' most alluring prices are those now offered on that almost impos sible of double events—the Hurdle Race and the Steeplechase. The following was the Cup betting; —The Barb, 7 to 1 ; Tim Whiffler (S), 5 to 1; Glencoe, 8 to 1 ; Tim Whiffler (V), 12 to 1 Seagull, 15 to 1 ; Nimblefoot, 15 to 1; Gulnare, 12 to 1 ; Bylong, 15 to 1 ; Little Fish, 7 to 1 s The Fly, 15 to 1; Ragpicker, 10 to 1.

THE CASTLEMAINE ELECTION.—The Argus of Saturday states;—"We learn by telegram from Castlemaine that Mr Kitto and Mr Tucker were

nominated yesterday for the vacancy in the repre-' sentntion of Castlemaine. The one represents the independent and Constitutional party, and the other is the nominee of the Loyal Liberals,

DEATH BY DROWNING IN THE MURRAY.—In telligence was received in Echuca late on Tuesday night that a man of the name of Frederick Manning, well known in Echuca, had been drowned at Bama. Dr Crossen proceeded there in the hope of rendering any possible assist

ance.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT MOAMA.—A man named James Sinclair was killed on Thursday evening by the fall of a tree, near the Moama Punts. He was a very old resident of Echuca, and leaves a widow

and three children to mourn his sad fate. Anthony Masterton, the man by whom the tree was left in an unsafe condition, was committed by the coroner for trial on a charge of culpable homicide.

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE was brought before the Rockhampton Police Court on the 8th inst. Mrs O'Brien, the wife of a man who kept a shanty on the Peak Downs Road, had charged two men—a European and Chinaman—with an outrage upon her. She made the same statement at the police Court, but in cross-examination her evidence entirely broke down. She admitted that the whole story was false, and that she had in vented the story to induce her husband to shift his quarters to some more lively locality.

MR. WALTER HILL THE COMEDIAN.—We (Age) regret to say that Mr Walter Hill is still far from

convalescent. It is therefore the intention of a number of his friends to give him a masonic benefit at St. George's Hall on the 10th prox. Nearly the whole of our amateur musical talent have volunteered, their services for the occasion, and Mr John Whiteman, M.L.A.; who, with a generosity which reflects on him the highest credit, is again foremost in the affair, has been promised some most influential patronage. Mr Hill's long illness, and unfortunately, the proba bility there is of its being some time before he is thoroughly cured, should cause his friends to strain every nerve to secure him a bumper

house.

THE SECOND DAY'S NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW AT BALLARAT.—From the local papers we learn the second day of the National Show was as brilliant a success as the most hopeful could well have expected it to be. Some 10,000 persons visited the yards and the receipts at the gates are estimated at L520, which with L46 collected on the first day, makes the handsome total of L566, as the proceeds of the two days' entrance pay ments. Whether the rumour of the Governor's coming had anything to, do with it or not, is not known. But be did not come, to his loss be it spoken. Brighter weather than ever, brought out nearly a fifth of the population and they were well repaid. The draught horses were as good as they have ever before been, Blackleg winning the prize of the day, in thoroughbreds King Alfred had it all his own way. Cattle were rather weak, but a fine yearling bull, some good strawberry cows, and Air Learmonth's Devons were noteworthy. The show of pigs was excellent, and the sheep we have already noticed remained on view. The poultry pens-were as usual attractive, and a magnificent peacock was a cynosure of colors. In butter there was a grand display, while cheese, bacon and a number of new colonial productions stood as con clusive evidence of the resources, natural and manufactured, with which this colony abounds, and proves the persevering character of the dominant race of the world. In the evening a dinner took place at Craig's Hotel, Mr G. G. Morton in the chair, when over a hundred guests sat down, and more would have been present had there been room. Among the guests was Lord Burghley, son of the Marquis of Exeter.

AGILITY AND COURAGE.— The Hamilton Spectator relates the following act of prowess by Mr. Butters, ex-Mayor of Melbourne, while he was on a visit with Ministers in the Western District:—" For the benefit of Mr Butters' Mel-bourne friends, we must not neglect to record a feat performed by him at the Byaduk caves, and which eye-witnesses pronounced to be a fine athletic exhibition. It seems that near to the caves is a large basin about one hundred yards long, fifty yards broad, and twenty feet deep, the sides being almost perpendicular. Mr Butters observed that a stray sheep had somehow fallen into this trap, and was, of course, in danger of bidding a long adieu to its friends and relations. Whether the sheep had sought this place in order to dodge the shearers, or whether it fell in by misadventure, was not discovered, nor has the matter been debated; but Mr Butters with much tenderness of heart, and more agility of limb, popped down into the basin, hoisted the sheep on his shoulders, and with the aid of a tree, leaning against the side, rapidly ascended, and placed the animal on the bank amid the plaudits of the beholders. The feat was certainly one to be witnessed to be appreciated ; but, unfortunately, the rescued sheep evinced no proper appreciation, for as soon as it was released it made a start, took a header, and plunged again into the basin, break-ing its Head or neck, or limbs, or some other part of its ungrateful carcase."

SHOOTING A CHINAMAN AT BALLARAT.—About two o'clock on Firday morning an occurrence, which had a fatal termination, took place at the Perseverance Gold Mining Company, near the plank road, Ballarat East. The midnight depre dations of the Mongolians have been frequent of late at this claim, and the miners have been obliged to act successively as watchmen over their property, as only a few nights ago twenty pounds worth of gold was abstracted from their puddling machines. At the hour mentioned, the party, named James Tinworth, whose turn it was to watch, saw two men approaching the claim, and at once called out to them to stand, and the deceased and another celestial immediately ran away, followed by the miner, who, after challenging, fired, and the deceased fell. Tin worth at once called up his brothers, and the police were promptly on the spot, but the man was found dead. Several wounds were discovered on the man's bead, and it seems that in the fall he received a severe wound on the forehead. The unfortunate man who was the cause of the accident seems to have acted with very commend able promptitude, as he at once gave himself up to the police, and confessed that he fired the shot, but with no intention of killing the man, but only to frighten him. The inquest was held at the British Hotel, Plank road, on Friday afternoon, and the evidence brought out the above circum stances. Tbe coroner dwelt, in his charge to the jury, upon tbe fact that deceased on being challenged at once left the claim without the com mission of any felonious act, although this was no doubt his intention, and stated the law to the jury that there was no justifiable cause for the shot being fired. Mr M'Dermott, who appeared for the prisoner, endeavored to produce a different view of the case before the jury, who retired to consider their verdict. After some deliberation the jury returned the following verdict; viz — that the death of the deceased arose from a fall on his forehead whilst running away from the puddling machine of the Perseverance Gold Mining Company, and being fired at by James Tinworth. Tinworth was brought up at the Eastern Police on Friday, and remanded.

A LODE OF COPPER is reported to have been found near Yea, by a Government official. One specimen is estimated to contain at least 80 per cent, of copper. This discovery has been made

within the last week.

The Arena, of Verona states that lately, during a storm, the villagers proceeded to the church of Madonna de Dosso-Buono, in order to ring the bells, the sound of which, they believed, would keep off the tempest. The lightning, on the con trary, fell on the tower, and killed three of the

men.

RECENT excavations at Cassaro, in Sicily, have disclosed the remains of what must have been a very extensive Syracusan colony. The external wall, the greater portion of which has been traced, was nearly 7 feet thick, and 6,000 feet in circum ference. The town appears to have been divided into four quarters, in one of which the vestiges of a fine temple have been discovered.