The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-10-01 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF AN ACTRESS.  On Saturday Dr. Danford Thomas held an inquiry at the Fulham Mortuary into the circumstances attending the death of Marion Fanny Sharp, a young actress, 20 years of age, who died mysteriously a few days previously. —Evidence having been given by the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Ellen Williams, who said she was the widow of the late Dr. John Williams, deputy inspector of hospitals, deposed that she was the landlady of 32, Lillie-road, and two weeks ago let apartments to a Dr. Heron and the young woman, now dead, who passed as his wife. The lady looked delicate, and said she had had malarial fever during a voyage they had just made from Africa. On the day deceased died she appeared to be very well ; she ate as usual, and had some stout with her supper shortly before 8 o'clock in the evening. Witness cleared the supper things away about a quarter past 8, and at that time Mr. Heron took some lemon. ade into the adjoining bedroom to the lady. Witness shortly afterwards went out shopping, and when she returned there was a crowd of persons gathered round the house and two policemen standing at the door. She ran upstairs, and saw the lady lying unconscious on the bed. Dr. Harris and Mr. Heron were standing near, and she was sent to the Jubilee Hospital for further medical assistance and for surgical instruments. She went to the hospital, and returned with Dr. Benham. Unceasing attention was given, but the lady died about 5 o'clock the following morning. The lady and gentleman lived amicably together whilst they were in the house.—Mr. Alexander Woodburn Heron was the next witness. He said he was in the Colonial medical service, and held various medical degrees. He resided on the West Coast of Africa for a considerable time, and for about a year in Gambia. He was a widower, his wife having died in Jamaica in Augu9t, 1881, when he was district medical officer at Manchester, Jamaica. —The Coroner: I think there wasan i. quest held on the bodyof your wife?— Yes.—Witness, proceeding, said he rirst met Marion Sharp in February, 1891, and she lived.with him from that time until August, 1891, when be went to Africa. She afterwards rejoined him there. They returned to England on the 3rd of September, and after staying at Liverpool, and at an hotel in Cromwell place, London, they took apartments at 32, Lillie-road. On Tuesday Miss Sharp appeared very well, and ate as usual, but after supper, with which she drank stout, she said she felt tired. Accordingly she undressed and went to bed. After turning down the gas, he left the room, and returned in about live minutes. He was then startled to find her in a state of collapse. He tried to rouse her, but cou;d not. Then he rang the bell, but as he got no answer, he ran to the front door, and called for the police. He sent a constable for come brandy, but she could not swallow it, and he at terwardssent for doctors. She never recovered consciousness, although every effort was made to restore her. She took nothing to drink, so far as he knew, after the stout with supper, nor did she ask for anytliicf. He made some lemon juiceand water, but she did not touch it. She had been taking for some time pasta dru prescribed for her in Liverpool as an ant i-pyret ic. r hat was for the malarial fever from which she had suffered.—Her pupils were contracted, were they not ?—I did not not notice that fact then, but she had been crying in the afternoon, and after doing that In .r pupils always contracted.—You say she hA•I 'teen crying; did she seem to be in distress of mind ?—Yes, poor child. She was hysterical.-11 ave you any suspicion that she might have taken any poison ?—I hope it is not possible.—Have you a stock of drugs with you? -No, I kept none. There was a bottle of my own mixture on the mantelpiece, which had been prescribed for myself.—Had you any reason to suspect by her conduct that she was likely to do herself any injury ?—She had often threatened to commit suicide. Jealousy caused some little differences between us that afternoon. She never threatened to leave me.—Did she say how she would commit suicide ?—Yes; by poison. She used to assist me in dispensing on the Gambia, and she had some knowledge of drugs.—Was she upset that afternoon ?—She had been upset, but not more than usual. She had asked me why I did not write and tell my Mends that I had come home. She had not written to her home for three years.— Have you any suspicion that she might have taken poison ?Looking back now, I think it may be possible, but I had no idea of it at the time. That was what Dr. Benham pa.rticularly asked me about. Why was she jealous? She was jealous of a relative of mime. I have only one relative. She asked me why I dui not write to the relative, and I told her I did tot wish any one to come between us. She then asked we if I was ashamed of her, said she would not stay in apartments, and threatened to kill herself.—Was there any talk of separation between you!—Oh, no, never. She said she did not wish to interfere with my life or with toy going to my relations. The lady who came to see her was not her sister, but the daughter of a landlady with whom she had once lived in Hammersmith. Tee Coroner said the inquiry must be adjourned, KS the doctors' examination on the body was not complete, the post-mortem having been made only to a limited extent. A thorough analysis of the contents of the stomach had yet to be made, as there was evidently some suspicion that there might be poison in it. The orgaus generally, he might say, were healthy, but if poison was found in the body, the deceased must either have taken it herself, some one else must have given it to her, or she must have taken it inadvertently.—The inquiry was then adjourned for three weeks.