ROTHERHITHE TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 7

ROTHERHITHE TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. A REMARKABLE LETTER. I*ssot Association —By TaJesrapb—-Copyright. LONDON, July 40. At the resumed inquest on William Holmes and George Kay (the former of whom committed suicide after shooting Kay dead iu a steet at Eotherhitho last week, a verdict was returned that Holmes murdered Kay, and then committed suicide while of unsound mind. It was believed at the time that both wore in love with the same schoolmistress, and at the inquest the police produced a remarkable letter, in which Holmes lold a Miss Frankise: ‘ ‘When you receive this you will bo free from a scoundrel, who is ruining your life. He will be dead, and you will be free, and you are young enough to start life afresh. I have -old Kay plainly that he shall not do as ho likes with you, or I will kill him. Kay came to you for comfort. You became friendly with Mrs Kay while you were stealing her man. I am endeavouring to give you a fresh start. You are bound to be dragged in. It were better to think of you in. my arms than lying to shield a beastly married man. You will give evidence at the inquest, and content yourself with denying that there was any harm in the friendship. Give up reading Wells, and keep clear of married men. Get rid of your love of a theatrical nfe, and return to your motto: ‘Pure, free, and unabashed.’ Do not translate it into ‘shameless.’ ’’

Miss Frankise gave evidence that she joined the school in 1921, and became friendly with both men. She went out walks and to theatres with Holmes, who twice proposed to her. She refused him. She had never been engaged. Her relations with Kay were those of the ordinary friendship of colleagues. There was never the least impropriety between them. The head mistress of the school at which the deceased taught gave evidence that Kay, after six weeks’ illness in 1923, declared that Holmes had tried to poison him with strychnine, and had admitted that he had made a mess of it, and threatened to make a better job next time.