Kitty Melrose (''née'' Agnes Butterfield; 6 September 1881 – 3 June 1912) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

stage actress and singer.

Life

Melrose was born in Cumberland to Stephen and Jane Butterfield. Her father later worked as a clothier in Blackpool,

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...

. In 1909, while in New York performing ''

The Dollar Princess ''The Dollar Princess'' is a musical in three acts by A. M. Willner and Fritz Grünbaum (after a comedy by Gatti-Trotha), adapted into English by Basil Hood (from the 1907 '' Die Dollarprinzessin''), with music by Leo Fall and lyrics by Adrian ...

'' at the Knickerbocker Theatre, was severely injured while hit with a ball while golfing with F. Pope Stamper. They initially feared she might be disfigured, but excellent surgery left her with only a small scar. She recovered, and made her last stage appearance at the

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...

in ''

The Quaker Girl ''The Quaker Girl'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in three acts with a book by James T. Tanner, lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank, and music by Lionel Monckton. In its story, ''The Quaker Girl'' contrasts dour Quaker morality with Pa ...

'', a musical that opened on 5 November 1910 and ran for 536 performances.

Death

In 1912, Melrose committed suicide at her apartment in

Smith Square Smith Square is a square in Westminster, London, 250 metres south-southwest of the Palace of Westminster. Most of its garden interior is filled by St John's, Smith Square, a Baroque surplus church, which has inside converted to a concert hall ...

Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, B ...

. A public inquest revealed that Melrose, who was found in her locked apartment with her head in the oven, had died from

asphyxiation Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of deficient supply of oxygen to the body which arises from abnormal breathing. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which affects primarily the tissues and organs. There are many circumstances that ca ...

caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Her family blamed the suicide on heartbreak after her fiancé, Edward Lawson-Johnson, broke off their engagement. His family, who supported him financially, had discovered the pair were living together outside of wedlock and forbid him marrying her. Letters found in her apartment revealed that Lawson-Johnson—described as "a man about town" by the press—broke up with her by post. Their contents were read at the inquest. Lawson-Johnson wrote,

"Marriage is impossible from the family and also, as you know, the financial point of view. You know my feelings towards you, so I need not say anything about that. Without money we must come to grief. I know I was very wrong in letting you believe it was possible, but my nerves were very tried with your several illnesses."

Her unposted response,

Eddie, my dear one, I cannot bear any more, and everyone has told me you won't, and have done with me. I am heartbroken, and cannot bear any more. Please forgive me, but I know as you do not love in' you will soon forget me. All my love, and good luck to you. Your Kit. P.S. It was wrong for every one to keep you from me. It has made it too impossible. I cannot fight alone, but I did believe in you, and did not think you would fail me. But God's will. I know you thought you were doing right. Eddie, By leaving me alone you thought you were doing right, but it wavs all wrong and cruel. God forgive you, as I hope he will forgive me.

Dr Eugene Michael Niall of Piccadilly testified he had treated her three months earlier for a "nervous breakdown" after she had taken

barbital Barbital (or barbitone), marketed under the brand names Veronal for the pure acid and Medinal for the sodium salt, was the first commercially available barbiturate. It was used as a sleeping aid (hypnotic) from 1903 until the mid-1950s. The chemic ...

. Her father stated that she had previously attempted to take her life a few years earlier. The inquest returned a verdict of "suicide during temporary insanity." She was buried in London at the

Kensal Green Cemetery Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of Queens Park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, it was founded by the barrister George Frederick ...

, Kensal Green.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Melrose, Kitty 1881 births 1912 suicides English stage actresses Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery Suicides in Westminster Suicides by carbon monoxide poisoning People from Whitehaven 1912 deaths 20th-century English actresses