LEEDS DOCTOR MURDERED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 250, 19 October 1907, Page 13

LEEDS DOCTOR MURDERED.

DEMENTED PATIENT'S ©ELUSION, i

A shocking tragedy took place in Leeds: early on Saturday -morning, August 31* thevictim being Dr. Walter C. Hirst, of West-1 field Terrace, Chapeltown, one of the most populous suburbs of the city. For about a week- Dr. Hirst aad had under nis care a I middle-aged patient named John William : Harrison, a retired sewing machine shop manager, of Shadwell, wSo was supposed; to be suffering from softening of the brain. About ten minutes past six on Saturday morning the man went to Dr. Hirst's surgery, and called up the tube to the effect that he was suffering from a leg affection, and must see the doctor at once. Mr. Hirst answered the call in person, and as soon as he opened the door the man fired point blank at him, killing -him on the spot. Harrison then turned the weapon on himself, and blew out his brains. The motive forjhe murder is thought to be that Mr. Hirst had signed a certificate for the man's removal to an asylum on Saturday. When Mrs. Hirst heard the shots she at once rushed to the scene, and was confronted by the terrible spectacle of her husband and his murderer lying dead almost side by side. There can be no doubt that the man Harrison was not in full possession of hie senses, and that he -was under a delusion that Dr. Hirst intended to do him an in-, jury. Shortly before the commission of his terrible act he wrote the following letter: to a friend:— "Dear friend,—l am suffering terrific, and; all through Miss calling in that doctor who struck mc on both knees, which, if yon will inquire, brings on terrible epileptic fits. It was murder to mc. He has killed mc. I was all right before, but now I am lost. The pains and fits are terrific. "I shall not be able to prosecute, but please make this public property regarding Dr. Hirst, of Chapeltown. He nas killed mc wilfully, and deserves punishment. He deliberately 6truck mc on both .kneecaps last Monday, and I confronted him with it before my sister, and he did not deny it. See him, and take the case up. It was murder. Farewell, old friend, no more happy hours in your garden. Farewell.—J. W. Harrison." "Please make this known all about. He has caused my death. Dr. Hirst, -of Chapeltown. Wilful. He did not deny it to my sister. 1 have given a motive to the crime to Mr. , laundryman, Savill-street.— Harrison." ' A pathetic feature of the tragedy is that j Dr. Hirst had only been married about stt weeks to Miss Oldroyd, the daughter of a manufacturer. The bridal couple only returned a week before from their honeymoon in Switzerland. Dr. Hirst was 28 years of age. It appears that Harrison's mental condition had given great anxiety to his friends, who calld in Dr. Hirst, and negotiations were in progress for. the man's removal to an asylum. By some means he had got to hear of this intention, which further unsettled him.