THE MURDER OF MR WHITELEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13812, 28 January 1907, Page 5

THE MURDER OF MR WHITELEY.

HIS ASSAILANT'S PAST HISTORY. SUPPOSED CASE OF BLACKMAIL. Prtas A«aoei*.tion—By Telegraph—Copyrijht. LONDON, January 25. Mr Whiteley's murderer is alive. His name is Hiiyner. He is well dressed, but unknown to the fumily or tho shopmen. After ;i half-hour's interview Mr Wliiteley peremptorily declined some request, and ordered Hayner to leave, or a policeman would be fetched. Rayner immediately iired a revolver at him twice, and then fired at his own forehead.

When in tho hospital he claimed that his name was Cecil Wliiteley. A paper found' in his pocket staled that Whiteley's refusal of his reasonable request would bo the cause of trouble that might end fatally. January 26.

(Received Jan. 27, at 1.23 p.m.) It transpires that Kayner is 29 years of age. Ho was born in wedlock, and his parents are respectable.

Tlio police report that Eayncr is impecunious, and that the case is one' of blackmail.

Rayner has been operated upon, and is recovering.

Ho was born at Teddington, and lodged recently in cheap lodgings in straitened circumstances, lie became engaged to a London barmaid, ami lias two children living at Bewdley.

Rayner was for years employed as a cashier at Riga until ho suddenly left, embezzlement being alleged. The Chronicle states that Earner's father and Whiteley were formerly personal friends, but the intimacy ended owing to Eayner senior threatening to prosecute Whitcley for slander.

The police surmise that the son's attempt to blackmail Whiteley was based upon a reopening of the old 'incident.