THE WHITELEY MURDER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 71, 25 March 1907, Page 5

THE WHITELEY MURDER.

EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL OF

RAYNER

[press association.] (Received March 24, 4.22 p.m.)

LONDON, March 23

At the trial of Rayner for the murder of William Whiteley, the "Universal Provider," Rayner's aunt, Louisa Turner, who was Whiteley's mistress, testffied that Whiteley did not know Rayner's mother till Rayner was four years old.

Rayner's testimony failed to establish the fact that he was Whiteley's son. Though lie had seen Whiteley at his mother's house in his childhood, said Rayner, he had never visited him till the day of the murder. He then claimed sonship, which Whiteley neither admitted nor denied. Rayner asked for assistance, and threatened to commit suicide. Whiteley went outside his office, and when invited to return declined, saying, "I have sent for a policeman." Rayner declared that he remembered no more.

|_A cablegram on Saturday stated that Rayner had been sentenced to death.]