GOLD COAST DRAMA

Evening Star, Issue 20033, 26 November 1928, Page 5

GOLD COAST DRAMA

WIFE’S DOUBLE LIFE DOCTOR SENTENCED FOR BORDER Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 24. Behind a drama in the Gold Coast Colony, where Dr Benjamin Knowles is to-day under sentence of death for the murder of Mrs Harriett Knowles, formerly Miss Madge Clifton, a prominent English music-hall artist and pantomime favourite, at their bungalow in a native town tweuty-livo miles from Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti, is a story outrivalling fiction. 'The British Colonial Office learns that the murdered woman was not Knowles’s wife, but Mrs Harriett Street, wife of Mr George Street;, formerly a successful actor-manager, and now a theatre proprietor in England. During the time she was living on the. Gold Coast a.s the wife of Knowles her husband and her relatives in England .understood that she was on a music-hall tour in Australia, and they were amazed to learn that she was living on tho Gold Coast. ...Her husband received frequent affectionate letters _ telling of her experiences in Australia, the letters were not posted abroad, but always boro a ixnidon date .stain)). Tho letters were enclosed in an envelope which was addressed to a third party in London, and reposted to her husband lor tho purpose ol concealing the fact that she was living on the Gold Coast. She ■.poke of hard times on her thcntrica tour, ami expressed a longing to rctnrr. to her husband and England. Air Street, who was deeply attached to her, is going immediately to the Gold Coast to ascertain the story of his wife’s amazing double life. Ho states; “I am horrified to hear that A.ladgo Clifton has been murdered. Wo were married in London several years ago, and were together in tho profession fur a. while. Ihen haid times came, and she told me that she had been offered a contract tor a single act in Australia. I advised her to accept it if she wished to do so. She went away towards the end of last year, but returned to London and told of her experiences abroad. Wo lived together happily till early this year, when she told nic that she had another contract in Australia and China, and she sailed again. J had not tho slightest knowledge of Knowles or how she met him. I. was not worried by the fact that her letters wore addressed through a third person. Madge was so Bohemian, happy-go-lucky, and casual that I could easily imagine her enclosing a letter to me in one addressed to one of her many women friends. Whatever happened on the Gold Coast, T am not blaming my wife. She was tho best woman in tlie world, and we were the truest and best pals in good times and in bad times.” Mr Street then broke down and sobbed.—Australian Tress AssociationUnited Service.

tragic figures.

BKLI.EE iN SUN'S INNOCENCE). LONDON, November 21. Dr Knowles's mother and sister arc tragic figures, sitting at their fireside at Aberdeen waiting for news. When they learned the verdict from a newspaper representative, the mother said: “ I cannot believe my son guilty. You may be assured I shall spare no effort to save him. I shall lodge an appeal if that lias not been clone.”— Australian Press Association.