A LANDLORD SHOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10419, 17 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

A LANDLORD SHOT.

SUICIDE OF HIS ASSAILANT. LOVED THE WIFE OF HIS INTENDED VICTIM. A shocking tradgdy was enacted at Princess Road, Finsbury Park, ft young man named Adolf Oppenheiiner having destroyed his own lifo aftor inflicting serious injuries upon Mr. Horace Rylands, a student of music, in whose house he was a lodger. Ib would appear that Mr. and Mrs. Rylands, who are a young couple, shitre thoir house, No. 1, Princess Road, with two or three gentlemen. Mr. Oppenheimer, who is understood to have been still in his teens, and to have come recently from Munich, was ono of the lodgers, and up to a few daya a?o was engaged by Messrs. Boehm, linen mercers, in the city. He was given notice to leave his apartments, but he told Mrs. Rylands that he would not leave. When advised to go quietly he reiterated his intention of rofusing to give up his room*, Mrs. Rylands then expressed her intention of laying the matter beforo her husband, and did so. Oppenheimer's condition, when he came downstairs next morning, is described as moody and sulky. He refused the morning meal, and left the breakfastroom for the drawing-room. Thither Mr. Rylands followed him, and informed him that he must leave the house at tho end of the week. Oppenheimer made no answer to this communication, but Mra. Rylands, who was present, recollects that Oppen. hoiraer carried his right hand to one of his pockets several times. Nothing further, however, occurred at this momont, and Mr. and Mrs. Kylands went back to the break-fast-room. A few minutes later Oppenheimer returned to that apartment, and there made use of insulting words to his landlord, and otherwise betrayed ungovernable excitement. Stung by Oppenheimer's language, Mr. Kylands threatened to fetch a policeman, and rose from his seat at a side table. Oppenheimer simultaneously drew a revolver, discharging in rapid succession four shots. Mrs. Rylands, the only other occupant of the room, scroamed loudly for assistance. Though two of the shots apparently took effect—ono striking the head and another the neck—Mr. Kylands w«s able to make a rush for the street door. His assailant started in pursuit, but dropping the weapon, returned and took possession of it. Thinking probably that Mr, Kylands was fatally wounded Oppenheimer abandoned his pursuit, and rushing up the main staircase, which abuts on the entrance hall, went into his own bedroom, closing and locking tho door. Here the unhappy youth turned tho revolver upon himself, and fell, shot through the right temple. A bullet w;ia afterwards found to have passed through the bedroom window into the road, and two reports were heard, so that bo discharged a couple of barrels upon himself. Oppenheimer never recovered consciousness, ami died at a quarterpast twelve. Dr. Suter dressed Mr. Kylands' wounds, and he was removed to the Great Northern Hospital, where he lies in a precarious state. At the inquest, Mrs. Ryland? stated : On Saturday night he told me that ho cared for me very much, and I objected to his conduct afterwards Before then hud yon any suspicion of his inclinations? I suspocted pomelhirii!, hut iliomiesed tho idea as improbable. Did he mako any statement to you? Not in any particular way. Mis manner, I suppose, wu9 objectionablo? Vee. And you mentioned his conduct to your husband? Yes. On the Sunday I told tho deceased his conduct was objectionable. And your husband thought it was advisable that he should loavo. Police-constahle Atkins, who found the body of tho suicide, produced the lad's pocket-book, which contained the following disconnected letter :— February 21,1897. Ido wronß now. I caunot bear it. _ I don't know what 1 have done. I can see it in his face, his anger, and he could see it in mine. Go to bed. I must talk it over with Mr. R. He will think it all very strange, but I must toll him. You must go. I aee you have spoken to Mr. Rylande.

The Coroner: The fact is ho had fnllen in love with his landlady, and us eoon as she was nw.irc of his feelinss she very properly told her hucband. He was only IS—an impresfioiiablo i\(;c. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind."