WEDDING RING OR BULLET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7190, 7 January 1902, Page 4

WEDDING RING OR BULLET.

A grocer's assistant named Deeimus Smith, of Viandsworth, was committed for trial by the South-"Western magis trate for threatening to murder Miss Ethel Palmer, a young woman of Clapham Common, who had kept company with him.

Miss Palmer, a good-looking girl, well dressed, stated that she had known Smith for four years, and was courted by him for threo years. Ho broke the engagement off about a year ago, but afterwards asked her to make it up, Sho refused, and he threatened to shoot ■her if she did not. Subsequently, when out for a walk together, he asked her to marry him, and on her refusal he said : "Do you sec I his •'"—at the same time producing a revolver—"l'll shoot you if you don't promise." Under fear sho gave him the promise, and after that they resumed their former relations. Later, however, she wrote to him saying that as they did not seem to get on well together they had better part; and in reply he sent the following letter:—"As you did not meet me on Sunday evening I take it for1 granted that you intend to defy me. You are playing a dengerous game. You are greatly mistaken if you think you can turn me from my purpose. I have done a great deal to please you because I believed you wen; in love with mo. Now you admit that you never intonded to marry me. I shall stop at nothing to have my revenge. You will have to choose between a wedding-ring on your finger or a bullet through your head. I am determined to see it right through to the bitter end." After receiving that letter she gave information to tho police. When arrested Smith said: " Sho deceived me several times, caused another fellow to go to New Zealand, and I suppose she thought I was going to do the same thing. I' don't care what becomes of mo. I shan't climb djwn." Smith told the magistrate Hint he had only threatened to shoot Miss Palmer if she played him false. It was only after she had thrown him over for the third time that he bought the revolver.