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Adeline Ann Fitz (1827–1860)

There has been a most distressing case of self destruction at Windsor. Miss Adeline Fitz, a lady of thirty-two, who had been engaged as a governess at Mrs. Dight's, Richmond, put a period to her existence by swallowing prussic acid. By a post mortem examination Miss Fitz was found to be enciente, and the verdict of the coroner's jury was that she had taken poison to conceal her condition. By papers subsequently discovered, it turned out that she had been driven to despair by one James Doyle, her cousin as it would seem, having refused to marry her, because, as he said, his relatives were opposed to his doing so. The seducer offered, in his letter, to provide for her; but as she loved him this was but poor consolation to the betrayed woman. From another letter which was found addressed by the deceased to her aunt, it was plain that the combined pressure on her mind from this desertion, from her condition, and from the fact of her being out of a situation, had induced her to contemplate the fatal act which hurried her into the presence of her Maker.

Original publication

Citation details

'Fitz, Adeline Ann (1827–1860)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/fitz-adeline-ann-26215/text34154, accessed 19 March 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

17 April, 1827
Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Death

31 January, 1860 (aged 32)
Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

suicide

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation