The Northern Guardian. — 1892-06-04 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE ROMANTIC TRAGEDY.  MADLY IN LOVE AND DIES HAPPY.  Mr. George Wyatt, coroner for East Surrey, yesterday opened an inquest at Lambeth upon the bodies of the man and woman who, on Wednesday morning, were found (lead at Knight's Hotel, York Road, under conditions which pointed to murder and suicide. The first witness was Marie Ferri, of elerkenwell, who said she had known the male deceased for two years. His name was Raoul Laconture, and he was a native of Havre, where he formerly resided at the Boulevard de Strasburg. Witness came over to this country with him two months ago. Laconture intended to be a clerk. Witness got a situation, and then she did not see the man so frequently. He lived at Holland Street, Tottenham Court Road. When he first came here he had money, but three weeks afterwards his mother said she would not send him any more. He was twenty years ohl. When witness obtained a situation and went away from Laconture, three weeks after arriving here, he met the deceased woman Ledermann at. a registry office, where he went to get employment. He told witness of the acquaintanceship, saying Ledermann was married, that he wished to go and live with her, but her husband was coming over on Monday afternoon. Laconture told witness that she should go back to France with Ledermann, but she did not want to return. Laconture had told witness that lie had never seen Ledermann before he met her at the registry office. She last saw Laconture last Monday afternoon, when he gave her photographs of himself, mother, and sister. On Wednesday morning she received a letter from him, which was in French, and as follows : -  My dear Marie,—ln an instant I will be dead with my mistress, who has found that I could not then go back to France yesterday. I don't know how to give you some money to go back to France. The best I can think of is for you to go to Wardour Street. With this authorisation, you will take all my things, and I think that through selling the lot you will have enough to go back to France. All effects found upon me at the time of my death will also be handed to you, and will complete the amount. I ask you to forgive me. I die happy, and madly in love. Remember me to Mons. and Madame Blundell Raoul. I forgive you for telling the secret of my desertion. Very painful it is to me. I leave under cover in an envelope a few pawnbrokers' tickets. Give them to some one with money, and it will be good business for the person you give them to. Witness went cin to say that Laconture had gone by the name of Biarret. He was a soldier, and wished to avoid five months of his term of service. He had threatened to kill himself because he was unable to obtain work, but witness did not think he meant it. . .  Mr. Albert Hermu, of the French Consulate, stated that two months ago the male deceased called on him, and asked him for money to take him back to Havre. Witness gave him 255. Since this occurred witness had communicated with Lacontitre's relatiues, and had received a telegram that his father was coming over. The next witness was Mrs. Knight, landlady of the hotel, who spoke to the deceased visiting her house, and to the discovery of their dead bodies under circumstances already made public. The doctor who was called in stated that as the couple lay dead together on the bed, the woman's arms clasped the man's neck, and he had his right arm around her, while his left hand held a revolver. They had been dead about five hours. Some police evidence was next given relating to the forcing open of the bedroom door, and to the discovery of four letters. In one of them, addressed to the hotel-keeper, Laconture apologised for dying in the house. In another, to the police master, Laconture said :—" We die to-day together because we love too much to live one from the other. We give ourselves voluntarily to death." This letter was signed by both of them. Another letter, addressed to the French Consul, was as follows This is to certify that we voluntarily commit suicide, not being able to be married as French subjects. We wish our bodies to be respected, and placed together till decision of our families. We clic happy, and satisfied. The letter was signed by the man and by the woman, who added :—`• In confirmation of the above declaration by my lover." The letters were dated the Ist of June. The police-constable added that the woman did not wear a wedding-ringThe jury found that Laconture first took the woman's life, and then shot himself, while suffering from temporary insanity.