LOVE DELIRIUM

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1924, Page 5

LOVE DELIRIUM

ASTONISHING EVIDENCE. ROTHERHITKE "TRIANGLE." FRIENDSHIP MISCONSTRUED. (Received 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 30. At the resumed inquest concerning the deaths of William Holmes and George Kay, the former of whom committed suicide after shooting Kay dead in the street at Rotherhithe last week, a verdict was returned that Holmes murdered Kay and then committed suicide while of unsound mind. It was believed at the time that both were in love with the same schoolmistress, and at the inquest the police produced a remarkable letter in which Holmes told Miss Frankise: "When you receive this you will be free from the scoundrel who is ruining your life. He will be dead and you will be free. You are young enough to start life afresh. I have told Kay plainly that he shall not do as he likes with you or I will kill him. Ivoy came' to you for the only comfort in his lonely life. You became friendly with Mrs I£ay while you were stealing her man. lam endeavouring to give you a fresh start. You are bound to b» dragged in. It were better to think of you in my arms than lying to shield a beastly married man. You will give evidence at the inquest. Content yourself with denying that there was any harm in the friendship. Give up reading Wells. Keep clear of married men. Get rid of your love of 1 the theatrical life and return to your (motto—'Pure, free and unabased.' Do [not translate it 'shameless.' "

Miss Frankise gave evidence that she joined the school in 1921 and became friendly with both men. She went put for walks and to threatres with Holmes, who twiee proposed to her and was refused. She had never been engaged. Her relation with Kay was the ordinary friendship of colleagues; there was never the least impropriety.

The headmaster of tho school gave evidence that Kay, after six weeks' illness in 1923, declared that Holmes had tried to poison him with strychnine, had admitted he had made a mess of it and threatened a better job next time.—A. and N.Z.