A STRANGE STORY RECALLED.

Evening Star, Issue 12699, 27 June 1907, Page 8

A STRANGE STORY RECALLED.

A correspondent, writing to the London ' Times' with reference to the death of Major "William Murray at Ossemsley Manor, Christchurch, on March 28, at the age of eightyeight, recills one of the most remarkablo tragedies of which record is kept by the Metropolitan police. Tho major, a fine athletic man in tho prime of life, well known in financial and social circles in London, was walking through Hungerford Market one afternoon in July, 1861, when, as he subsequently deposed upon oath, lie was accosted by a gentleman with whom he was not personally acquainted, but who introduced himself as Mr Roberts, a solicitor, of Northumberland Chambers, Northumberland street, Whitehall. "You are Major Murray, I believe,", said the stranger, and upon the major admitting his identity Mr Roberts asked him whether it was not a fact that he was in want of capital for a company then in course of formation. Major Murray replied in the affirmative, whereupon both proceeded to the office of Mr Roberts. They had not been inside long before shots were heard, and then the noise of a desperate struggle and loud cries for help. In another moment a window was thrown open, and Major Murray, wild, dishevelled, and bleeding from several wounds, jumped into the yard of the adjoining house, where he was found half dead from exhaustion and loss of blood.

In the meantime the police had arrived on the scene, uid forthwith forced an entrance into the office of Mr Roberts. The room presented a terrible spectacle, with all the indications of a life-and-death struggle having taken place. Furniture was overturned or smashed, and the whole place reeked with blood. In an inner room, huddled against .a wall, Mir Roberta was found bleeding from shocking wounds in the. head, and quite unable to give, any account of what had happened.. He was removed to hospital, where he died of his wounds, and at the coroner's inquest subsequently held Major Murray eave a clear and succinct-account of his awful experience after entering the solicitor's offic«, «a already described. Mr Roberts, said the mtror, seemed quite calm, showing not the slightest sign of flurry or mental disturbance. He closed the door of the room, and seemed to be looking for some papers at his desk. Suddenly he produced a pistol and fired at his visitor point-blank. Major Murray, was hit by the first shot, and fell to the - ground, He retained bis senses, however, and believing that he had to deal with a madman, pretended to be dead, thinking that Roberts would be satisfied that ho bad achieved his rnivnittenl purpose. But Roberts' fired again at the prostrate man. Resolved to make a tehi for life, Major llurajt managed, to got

up, and grappled with his assailant. A vib- I lent struggle followed, and Major Murray j dealt Roberts several terrific blows upon the ! head with a pair of tongs and a bottle, and disabled him. Then the major opened the window and jumped out. Efforts were mads At the inquest to show that Major Murray called upon -Mr Eoberts voluntarily, and that a quareJ arose over-money matters, but the jury had no hesitation in accepting the major's version. <tf the matter, and returned a verdict-of "Justiftabfe homicide."