TRAGEDY IN MELBOURNE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7777, 3 February 1891, Page 5

TRAGEDY IN MELBOURNE.

MURDER OF A GIRL BY HER LOVEIJ. [PKOM OUB bOSBBSPONDENT.J I [B± TatBQttAPH FROM THH BI.TXH\] MELBOURNE, January S7. A shocking murder was committed at Clifton Hill at a late hour on Sunday night, the victim being a young woman named Stella Louisa Marks, aged twentyfour, who resided at St. Kilda, She met her death at the hands of her, sweetheart;, a man named John Wilson, twenty-three years of age, who is employed as conductor on the Loddle etreet tramway, and who lived at Speneely street, Clifton Hill. The couple were walking together lin the Darling Gardens, Clifton Hill, and iit is anpposed were quarrelling, as Wilson gives to the police as a reason for Ilia crime that he was jealous of the girl. At I about half-past eleven o'clock a man named Swan, who wae passing through the gardens, saw the man who acconi -\nied Miss Marks make a sudden attack upon her. The manner of the assault suggested that he had cut the girl's throat, and Swan hastened to the apot to find this surmise jtrue, as the unfortunate young woman : was lying upon the ground bleeding profusely. Her assailant had at the first alarm made off, but Swan lost no time in giving chase, and was joined by Constable McDougall, who entered the gardens at this time. The constable saw Wilson running, and started in pursuit, but did not ! come up with him until be had se&ehed ! the Clinton Hill police station. Here Wilson gave himself np, confessing what he J had done, and, as already s&icl, stating that I the act was committed through jealousy. The murder was committed in the most; determined manner and the unfortunate girl lingered only a very short time. Miss -Marks' is understood to nave had a married sister living in the neighborhood where ; she met her death,' - a Mrs Hill, who keeps a wine shop. An account from another source states that the young woman, who was well dressed, and respectable in appearance, was all but dead when found by Swan ia the Darling gardens, her head having been ! nearly severed from the body with a razor. Swan: gave information to Constable ; McDougall, who gave chase to the murderer. Wilson at first did bis utmost to escape arrest, and before the police constable came up with him attempted to commit suicide with the same weapon he had used upon the girl, bnt only inflicted a slight wound upon bis throat. He subsequently surrendered himself.