DEATH IN GAOL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 243, 26 July 1947, Page 5

DEATH IN GAOL

FORMER MINISTER OF JUSTICE (Rec. 10 a.m.) LONDON, July 25. Thomas John Ley, former Minister of Justice for New South Wales, who was sentenced to death in March for the chalk pit. murder, died in Broadmoor last night. Ley had a seizure, and it, is believed that death was due to natural causes.

The “Evening Standard,” headlining the story of Thomas John Ley’s death in Broadmoor lunatic asylum to-day, as “Wealthiest Ever Killer,” says Ley had a seizure and hemorrhage. One of his family was With him when he died.

LAST-MOMENT MESSAGE' (Rec. Noon.) LONDON, July 20. Thomas John Ley tried to write a last message before he died, says the “Daily Mail.” Stricken by the seizure and scarcely able to speak to his son and wife, who were at the bedside, Ley asked for pen and paper. He became unconscious before he was able to write more than a few scrawled words. Clive Ley said he could not decipher more than <a word or two, but his father was probably trying to protest his innocence. The “Daily Mail” says it is informed that Ley’s death will not affect the legal action Mrs Mudie brought against Ley. She will claim against the estate for support of her son.