WOMAN FOUND SHOT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 62, 24 May 1928, Page 5

WOMAN FOUND SHOT

SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

SUPPOSED HUSBAND ARRESTED. DENIES OHARGE. United Press Assn. — Electric Telegraph Copyright. (Received 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day.

Miriam Merriman, a seel fifty-six, residing at Middle Harbour, North Sydnew, was found shot through the .head, apparently with a pea rifle, which was found in the house recently discharged. Frederick Lawrence (G2), a painter

living with deceased for twenty years and claiming to be her husband, was arrested and charged with murder.

He denied the charge and told the police deceased must have committed suicide, but the police found the, pea rifle in another part of the house entirely apart from the body: Lawrence's sister, who lives a mile away, paid a chance visit. to the house and when she learned what had happened she fell on her knees on the front verandah and prayed aloud for her brother and the dead woman.

Curious crowds gathered and bared their heads. i

The police last night searched for a long time before they fqjind a ten-year-old son nearly frantic at his aunt's. He told the police he saw his father creeping along a passage towards his mother with a pea rifle. His father gave him a two shilling piece to clear out quickly. The police learned that Lawrence was mostly unemployed lately and wanted his wife to shift to another suburb, but she was so attached to the place that she declined.—Australian Press Assn.