MURDER AND SUICIDE

Southland Times, Issue 19311, 1 August 1924, Page 5

MURDER AND SUICIDE

THE ROTHERITE TRAGEDY. THE WOMAN IN THE CASE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 30. At the resumed inquest on William Holmes and George Kay, the former of whom committed suicide after shooting ' Kay dead in the street at Rotherite last week, a verdict was returned that Holmes murdered Kay and then committed suicide while of unsound mind. It is believed at the time that both were in love with the same schoolmistress and at the inquest the police produced a remarkable letter in which Holmes told a Miss Frankise:—“When you receive this you will be free from the scoundrel who is ruining your life. He will be dead and you free and young enough to start life afresh. I have told Kay plainly that he shall not do as he likes with you or I will kill him. Kay came to you for the only comfort in his lonely fife. 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 was better to think of you in my arms than lying to shield a beastly married man. You wjjl give evidence at the inquest. Content yourself with denying there was any harm in the friendship. Give up reading Wells, keep clear of married men, get rid of the love of theatrical life and return to your motto: ‘Pure, free and unabashed.’ Do not translate it 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. She had never been engaged. Her relations with Kay were the ordinary friendship of colleagues. There was never the least impropriety.

The headmaster of deceaseds’ school gave evidence that Kay, after six weeks’ illness in 1923, declared that Holmes had tried to poison him with strychnine and had admitted he had made a mess of it and threatened a better job next time.