The New Continental Hotel

Is this a story about love; or is it about losing yourself to love. .?

On Tuesday 6^th August 1907, a dreadful tragedy occurred at the Albion Hotel near Millbay Train station.  

For some time Mr and Mrs MacLoughlin had been separated, due to Mr MacLoughlin’s love of whiskey; not allowed to live as a single women Mrs Macloughlin could only leave her husband if she was to be provided with a live in place of employment. In February 1907, Mary Ann MacLoughlin gained this employment as a live in housekeeper at the Albion Hotel, here she was happy and loved her new found freedom and profession, working amongst people she now called her friends.

William MacLoughlin remained in the family home in Compton with his two young children, the elder two siblings were in employment at nearby farms in both Tavistock and Callington.

On this dry, clear Tuesday in August something came about William; an uncontrollable urge to claim his wife once again. He strode in, uninvited to the hotel and found his way to the still-room.

Into the still-room William marched; with alcohol on his breath and passion in his heart.  He waited, crouched in silence in the corner of the room waiting for Mary Ann to arrive.  

With the sound of a gun firing, Mathew, the page boy, ran to the still-room from the lobby; through the archway and down the narrow stairs with only a dim light to guide his way. He could hear nothing but deep breaths and felt a cold chill in the air. With his heart pounding, Mathew discovered the tragedy, his colleague Mary Ann on the floor and the stranger with the smoking gun standing near her limp body.

He screamed and sobbed and then saw William proceed to shoot himself.

A letter was found on the man when the police came,  in it he wrote in affectionate terms to his wife; promising he would find a way to give up the drink and that they would have a future together, somehow, someway, sometime.

Could this really be true..?