THE SOUTHSEA MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13451, 30 May 1907, Page 5

THE SOUTHSEA MURDER.

A LETTER FROM CRUMPE. HIS DISTRACTED STATE OF MIND. [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] | Wellington*, Wednesday. A resident of Wellington has in his possession a letter from John L. Crumpe. charged with the murder at Portsmouth of Mrs. Moriarty Crumpe, written from Auckland on January 211 last, just prior to his leaving for England in the Rimutaka. In it he intimates that he is going Home "to assert my right by law re the will of my late uncle, Dr. Cirumpe, and also to conteat or force the payment of moneys due to myself and my son under the will of my late cousin, Sylvanus Crumpe. Suspense and the belief of my son and self having been, and being, robbed is more than I can stand. Latterly mv head swims over the trouble, which borders on dishonoui and disgrace, in the opinion at those who do not know me now.. lam thinking of goling to the Old Country and trying to get counsel to take up my case." lam very 'poor, but if my case is successful I shall be only too pleased in binding myself, in presenting counsel a present from myseli independent of legal charges, as I have no money tc stump down." ■ In another part of the letter, he says that he has no friends at Home to help him, as it would be to their.disadvantage. with relations who are against, his mentioning |his claim.

A relative of the prisoner, J. L. Crumpe, resident near Auckland, writes tie as follows:—"Mr. John Langford Crumpe, who shot Mrs. Sylvanus Crumpe, of Southsea, belongs to a very old and highly respected Irish family. " He is a native of Kerry, Ireland, but has spent many years of his life in Auckland. He : s the eldest son of the late Dr. Crampe, of Tralee, aud nephew of the famous late Dr. John Langford Cruinpe, of 'The Spa,' Tralee. His wife was the widow of the late Mr. C. H. Ring wood, Indian Civil Service, and daugnter of General Tweedie, of '.Rachaw,' Biggar, Peebles. He left Auckland List February for the Old Country, concerning money and property over which there has been much trouble and lawsuits for the past 30 years. Mrs. Crumpe and hie only son, Mr. Langford Crampe,, are at present in Auckland. Mr. Crumpe intended returning after trying to settle, his affairs on a better footing. ; This dreadful news has come as a great blow to his wife and son, and most probably they will leave for England. Ho is considered eccentric by those who know him well. He is about 75 years of age, and complained of feeling very ill on arriving in England. He told everybody he was being cheated and rogued by his relations and lawyers at Home, and was going to expose them all if they did ' not act fairly." .-: