W. N. WILLIS STABBED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2877, 5 May 1909, Page 19

W. N. WILLIS STABBED.

SYDNEY, April 27.

W. N. Willis, who was a leading figure in the late land scandals, was found stabbed, in some scrub near RawiTF-icls about midnight.

The affair only leaked out this afternoon. Willis is alive, but is unconscious. There are two wounds on the left breast.

Clark, trainer for Willis, states that the latter was at his cottage last night, and left there late in cheerful spirits. He was found by a. stable hand, and was conveyed to the cottage.

Foul play was not suspected by those at the cottage. Medical aid was not considered necessary till later, when Willis became delirious. Then it was discovered that h» had been stabbed.

The affair is mysterious. Willis was to have appeared in court to-day in connection with a case in which a man named Daly was charged with attempting to extort money from Willis. The judge ordered Willis to show cause for failing to appear on his subpoena. Later on. the news of the tragedy leaked out.

April 28. In connection with the Willis mystery, a well-known lawyer engaged in the defence of Daly in, the alleged extortion case received an anonymous threatening letter. Amongst the warnings it contained was that there was a strong "push" against him. The lawyer ignored the letter.

There are no further developments in the Willis case. The police are unable to secure an interview with Willis on the ground that he must be kept quiet for a few days.

Thirty thousand (feet is the greatest depth of the Paoifio Ocean; 27,366ffc of the Atlantic; Southern. Ocean, 25,200 ft; Indian Ocean, 18,582fti Arctic Ocean t 9000 ft. " ■