“THE UNWRITTEN LAW.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8178, 20 July 1912, Page 9

“THE UNWRITTEN LAW.”

JEALOUS SECRETARY KILLS MILLIONAIRE. By accident the wife of a millionaire at San Diego (Cal.) was slain last month oy an ex-private secretary who had resolved on the murder of his late employer as he returned from a motor ride. The first two’ shots struck the lady, the one in the mouth, the second in the head, and she staggered from the carup the steps of the front entrance and collapsed at the telephone in the futile attempt to ring up the police. Her husband had been shot down as ho stepped from the car. His body when found was riddled with bullets. The ex-secretary, a man named Lewis, had first led the watchdog across tho grounds, anticipating tho return of the car, and TIED HEM TO A TUBE. Then ho had seen tho car returning from a. Sunday evening drive, and postedhimself for emptying the chambers of his revolver at deadly range upon tho millionaire, Mr Charles Toliver. Lewis recently brought an action for damages against his employer, alleging that Mr Toliver had alienated the affections of his wife, a strikingly handsome woman, aged thirty-five. Lewis lost his suit. “Yes/’ he said, when arrested, 'T killed him because he ruined my home.” Lewis explained that he had not intended to harm Mrs Toliver. He opened fire, while the couple were still in the motor-car. Mrs Toliver was over sixty years of age. Lewis made a frank confession when .arrested at his house late that night. Ho had been armed with two pistols ‘ and a dagger. Ho . • POURED SHOT AFTER SHOT into his former employer. Though dreadfully wounded, Mr Toliver succeeded in reaching the house, where with arms stretched out and facing the murderer he fell. -Lewis then, according to his own statement, knelt down and plunged his dagger into the old man’s body. There was then, apparently, no one to hinder his retreat. He walked across the grounds and out into the road. A tramcar was passing as he reached a line, and he boarded the cai\ He so made his way home, and was waiting for them when the police arrived.