MURDER AND SUICIDE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 July 1924, Page 5

MURDER AND SUICIDE

REMARKABLE iIetTER AT INQUEST (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 30. At tlie resumed inquest on William llolmos and George Kaye (the former of whom commit ted suicide after shooting Kaye dead in a street at Rotlierliit-he last week), a verdict was returned that Holmes murdered Kaye- and then committed suicide while of unsound mind. It was believed at the time that both were in love, with the same school-mis tress and at the inquest the police produced a remarkable letter in which Holmes told a Miss Frankisq, “ When you receive this you will he.free from the scoundrel who is ruining your life. ITe will he. dead and you free enough to start life nfros.li. f have told Kaye plainly that he shall not do as he likes with you, or I will kill him. Kaye came to you for Ins only comfort in a lonely life. You became friendly with Mrs K aye while you were stealing her man. 1 am endeavouring to give you a fresh start. You are bound to b v e 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 there was any harm in the friendship. Give up reading Wells. Keep clear of married men. Get rid of the love of a theatrical life and return to your motto, pure, free, and unabashed.” Aliss Frankise gave evidence that she joined the school in 1921 and became friendly with both men. She went out for walks and to theatres with Holmes, who twice proposed to her. She refused. She had never been engaged. Her relations with Kaye were the ordinary friendship of colleagues. There was never the least impropriety. The headmaster of deceased’s school gave evidence that Kaye after six weeks’ illness in 1923 declared that Holmes had tried to poison him -with strychnine and had admitted he had made a mess of it, and threatened to make a better job next time.