THE WOY WOY TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13995, 30 August 1907, Page 5

THE WOY WOY TRAGEDY

MURDERER DEOLARBD INSANE,

Fi«as. Aaiociition—By Telegi»p'a—Copyright, SYDNEY, August 29. (Eeceivcd August 29, at 9.27 p.m.)

Tho jury found that Wilson was insane when lie shot Pox at Woy Woy on August 2, and the judge ordered the prisoner to be detained during the Governor's pleasure.

The story of tho crimo is in somo respects peculiar, <ind in several of its n.oiTits quite pathetic Wilson, who with his wife kept a. popular boarding-homo at Blaokwall, was patronised by a large clientele of regular custonim-3, who for years past had been in tho habit of visiting- those parts for the sake of the fishing. Mr Fox had been «■ frequent guest at tho house at different poriods for, perhaps, 18 years past, and was on quite intimate terms with Wilson and tho members of tho household.

_ On the clay of tho tragedy Sir. Fox walked into Woy Woy to meet his son, who had gone to tho post office, and before returning, homo had somo drinks, and purchased more rum at Mrs Marshall's hotel. Upon arrival at tho boardinjj-houso he want into his son's bedroom with the boy and sat on the bed, unfastening his shoes, when suddenly Wilson appeared at the door aiming a gun at Fox, who did not see him. The boy look alarm, and called out, "Look, look, dad, it's serious," Tho father looked up, and laughingly said, "You are not going to shoot';" and, on Wilson saying he was, added, still' challingly, "Go on, shoot away 1" Wilson did so, and* his victim fell to tho floor shot through tho neck and killed instantly. Young Erie Fox then made a rush at Wilson and endeavoured to wrest tho gun from him} but tho old man was too strong, and the boy, finding his efforts fruitless, ran away to a neighbouring houso, whoro he informed Mr Singleton, and the polico were communicated with. Wilson, as subsequent events showed, walked calmly away from the scene of his crime, put the rifle—still loaded in ono barrel—on his own bed, and then went into the kitchen and sat over the lire, whore he wne found by Senior-constable Morris.