Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1889-04-20 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

STRANGE STORY.  Further investigation has been made into the circumstaoces attending the tragedy on the Midland Railway between Nottingham and Frew,- on Saturday. It now transpires that the Belgian Feron had only been acqoainted with the girl, whose real name is Lily Burford, since ske came to Derby three weeks ago for the purpose of obtaining a barmeit's !lactation at the Midland Hotel. Failing in this, she appears to him° become depressed in spirits, and visited theatres and other places of amusement. At the theatre she met Fermi, who bad, during his year's sojourn in Derby, shown a penchant for Ramoses and music hall artistes. Some few months ago he became so much beyond the control of those who were responsible for his conduct at Derby that one of the friends of the family requested Ferou's father to come °vet from Brussels. Ho canoe, and after the visit Peron became quieter, though his fondness for theatrical society rem lined. He made the acquaintance of a tradesman's daughter, who, alter some time, declined his companionship, whereupon he threatened that, unless she commuted to a rendezvous, he would shoot her with • revolver, which he produced. This weapon he regularly (tarried with him, and had frequently shown to friends. Soon Fenn and Burford became acquainted ; • strong attachment sprang up between them, and Peron waa a frequent visitor at the girl's lodgings in Princes-street Derby. She discloaed to him after a time the fact that she was engaged to be married, but confessor her preference for Peron. In presence of other persons the young pair have often spoken of making a eensation, committing @Weide, and ending their lives together. She was aerrostomed to read novels. Before leaving Nottingham on Saturday with her lover, she remarked that they intended to to eoniethiug sensational, and would be round dead in the train. Another remark made before the journey was undertaken goes to show that she and Fawn premeditated self-detruction. It was, that she had put on clean clothes as she was going to die. These observations were, however, treated by her landlady simply as silly jokes, and no notice wee taken of them; nor when, before the return journey commenced, Ferns gaily remarked on the Nottingham platform that he was about to commit suicide, was the remark treated seriously. Being accompanied by the girl, it was thought he jestingly referred to his approachiog ruarrikol. That which, however, more tionolusively points to the foolish pair having determined to die together, is the discovery of a latter addreesed by the girl to a friend at Spenoymoor, Durham, where her home was. Therein she declares her intention to die ' with her lover. This letter, with six others in tha handwriting of Feron, was found bloodstained on the railway carriage-esst—not m Feron'k pocket as previously stated. The inquest was opened on Monday, and adjourned until Wednesday. A Derby correspondent says— The facts ascertained on Monday are sonsidered to posit strongly to the supposition that the girl Burford was a consenting party to her own death, even if she did not herself fire the shot. Arrangements are being made to convey the body of the man to Brasiers, and that of the girl to Spannymoor.