REVENGE BY PRIVATE SECRETARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12814, 13 July 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

REVENGE BY PRIVATE SECRETARY

MILLIONAIRE SHOT IN A MOTOR

CAR

NEW YORK, May 27. The bodies of Mr Charles Toliver and his wife, wealthy residents of Son Diegoy were discovered last night on the threshold of their suburban house riddled with bullets. They had been shot as they were alighting from their motor-car on hpme from a Sunday evening ride by a man who had previously taken the precaution of tying the watchdog to a distant tree.

The man, who' was arrested late last, night and confessed the' crime, is named Lewis, and was formerly private secretary to Mr Toliver. Lewis recently brought an action for damages againest his employer, alleging t\mb 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, "I killed him because he ruined my home." Lewis explained that he had not intended to harm Mrs Toliver. . He opened fire while the couple Avere still m the motor car, and the first shots struck "Mrs Toliver, who was over 60 years of agein the mouth and head. She staggered into the house and .fell dead at the tele-, phone while vainly endeavoring to summon tho police. < ' ' %

Meanwhile Lewis, who- was ' armed with two pistols, arid a dagger, poured shot after shot into his former employer: Though dreadfully wounded, Mr Toliver succeeded m reaching' the house, where with arm stretched out and facing the murderer he fell. Lewis then, according to his own statement, knelt down and plunged Iris dagger into' the old man's body.

Lewis left ; the house unmolested, jumped into a tramway car and rode home, where he was- subsequently arrested.