THIRD EDITION

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 27, 31 January 1919, Page 8

THIRD EDITION

HOLLAND PARK TRAGEDY

MRS. RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS,

(UNITED PEE9S ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZBALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received January 31, 2.30 p.m.)

LONDON, 29th January. At the hearing of the murder charge against Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford, it was stated that Mrs. . Rutherford wrote to her husband in July, 1918, saying "have you ever known me to refuse forgiveness? Only come back to me. My love for you is the most vital part of my life." In four later letters she complained that her husband was guilty of frequent ill-usage, an awful temper, and of deception and unfaithfulness, adding "I have been through hell. Other men have never been more than an episode in my life. You are life itself." Sir A. Bodkin commented that? the letters were of a faithful character. This correspondence, in conjunction with Seton's visits, might have given Rutherford a suspicion that his wife had been unfaithful, resulting in a fixed intention to kill a defenceless man.