STABBING AFFAIR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 99, 28 April 1909, Page 5

STABBING AFFAIR.

W. N. WILLIS THE VICTIM. FOUND NEAR RAND WICK. By Teleerspn.— Press Association.- -Copyright. SYDNEY, 27th April. "W*. N. Willis, who, with the late W. P. Crick, was a leading figure in the New South Wales land scandals, was found in some scrub near Randwick about midnight last night. He waa alive, but unconscious, suffering from two wounds where he had been stabbed on the left breast, Willis was to have appeared in court to-day in connection with the j hearing of a case in which a man named Daly stands charged with attempting to extort money from Willis. The Judge ordered that Willis should show cause for failing to appear on his subpoena, and later on news of the tragedy leaked out. A man named Clark, employed by Willis as a trainer, states that Willis was at his cottage last night, and left there late. He was then in cheerful spirits. Later he was found by a .stable hand and conveyed to Clark's cottage. Foul play was not suspected by those at the cottage, and medical aid was not considered necessary till later on, when Willis became delirious. Then it was discovered that he had been stabbed. The whole affair is shrouded in mystery. A THREATENING LETTER. IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXTORTION CASE. (Received April 28, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. In connection with the Willis mystery, a well-known lawyer engaged in the defence of Daly, in the alleged extortion case, has received an anonymous threatening letter. Amongst the warnings, it was stated, that there was a strong "push" against him. The lawyer ignored tne letter. Willis was a land agent, who, with others, was charged with conspiracy in connection with land scandals a few years ago. It was proved that Willis had paid large sums to Mr. W. P. Crick, when Minister for Lands, to induce him to grant areas of State land to Willis's clients. Willis fled to South Africa, but afterwards returned, and successfully faced a trial. Crick, after being suspended from Parliament, was proceeded against by the Law Society, struck off the rolls.