MURDER AND SUICIDE

Temuka Leader, Issue 1489, 6 April 1886, Page 1

MURDER AND SUICIDE

At Archill (Auckland), on Friday evening a young lady named Emily May Railing aged 17, while reluming home was mot by a young mm named Edward Fuller, aged 26. A conversation took place, and a few minutes afterward* a report was heard and the yonng lady fell. She was carried into an adjacent shop, and immediately afterwards a second report was heard, and it was then discovered that the yonng man had shot himself through Hie bead. Both died soon afterwards. Sj far as can be ascertained, the circumstances appear to be a* follow : -Edward Fuller, a young man, resided with his brother-in-law, Jenkins, a builder, in King Street, Archil. Ho was a laborer, and had worked in some of the brick-yards. He left town about yer.r and a'-hnlf ago f<>r Kaipnra, and returned to Auckland at Christmas, since which lie has lived wi’h hie hr-thcr-im law. Emily May foiling, the vhri n the tragedy, was 17 years of Folhwis apparently madly in love with h'T, and when she was nn’y fifteen years ol age (rather more than two years ago) he made proposals to her parents to oift-ry her. Miss foiling, however, not reciprocate his passion, and trie • t* avoid him, although be endeavored tmeet her constantly. In the evening sic was on her way to a Biblc-claw m«f t-ng at the A'exandra stre't churih, when she was met by Fuller -t the corner ol King and Stanley streets. -What, conversation passed bet een them is nm known, but it was very short. H* seized her by the arm and discharged two shots from a small six-chamber bulldog revolver into her breast. The actual firing was not seen by any one, but the reports were heard by several persons, including Mss Burgess (who had just passed them) and Mr Tmmm;, a storekeeper, who resides in the vicinity. The bullets entered her breart, -nd, screaming dreadfully, she was only able to run across the toad to Mr Thomas shop,

when she fell fainting on the doorstep. Medical, assistance was at once sent forj but the poor girl died within half an hour of being shot. Fuller with soma insane idea of escape possibly in his mind, ran at full speed towards Brisbane street, the corner of which he turned, and, at the side of Mr George Bearness’ house, he deliberately shot himself in the mouth, and fell dead instmtaneously. It will be seen from the following letters, which were upon th» body of the asa isain when found by Constable Clark, and produced at the inquest, that Fuller had laid out his plans, and that he do* liberately determined not only to commit suicide, but also to murder the unfortunate girl for whom he had conceived such a violent passion. The letter is 1 e ded Friday afternoon, but no 'dale £i appeided : Dear sisters and brothers, —This will be the last time I will be able to write to you, for by the time yon get this letter I shall be dead, as 1 am going to shoot myself to night. Life is a misery to mo now. I love Emily Keiling as no one ever loved before, and she cannot go with me because she is afraid her father will make a row again. If he had consented when I asked him the first time, this would never have , happened. I don’t think she likes me so well as she did then. It don’t matter where I go, I cannot stop, and that is tha' reason I could not stop at Henderson’s mill, so 1 have made up my mind to shoot myself, ‘as I can’t live without her. I shall speak to her to-night, and ask her if she will have mo without her father’s consent. If she objects we will both die together. You can divide my money between you and Lizzie. So now I bid you all good-bye for ever.—l am, your loving brother, Edwin James Fuller." The following letters were also found in the breast pcckrtof Fuller’s coat. They are signed by the name of his victim, and no doubt were written by her. Beth letters were written in lead pencil, end must have been carried some time in Fuller's pocket, as they are almost undecipherable on the outer side. It is apparent from these that the unfortunate girl bad been candestinely keeping company with Fuller. The first letter is addressed Monday, but unfortunately there is no date. The letter is as follows : —Dear Edward- I am writing this letter to you on the quiet. Mother told me I was not to write to you. We are going out to-night to a tea meeting down at the Oh arch. If you are anywhere about f will talk to you, I don’t know whether we are going out on Wednesday night, so am very sorry that I can’t sue you, but you know that ia not my fault. Mother says that if father saw me with you he would cot let me go with you at all, and she says she will try to make him lot me go with you before lam eighteen. - I would go with you if I could; yon know that. On Sunday morning 1 think my father saw you go out, because ha said he might be up on the New North Road, and I did not want to ,be caught. I don’t think you love me as much as you say you do, or else you would not do things that you are ashamed to let me see. 1 thought it made you look very low to be smoking a pipe. If ever I hear of you drinking, even if you only taste it, I shall give you up, although it would be hard for me. My mother was surprised at you. She would not believe it was you till we got up to you. Bessie gave me such a scolding on Sunday, but I only laughed at her, and told her she was aa old maid. You roust not be offended. I don’t mean aoytlrng by what I have said. Please write to me aa soon as you can. You must excuse writing as you know I am unwell, and I am sitting up to write this to you, and I am in my night dross, and it is cold. My. best lore to you and a kiss. 1 remain, dear, yours truly, Emily M. Keiling. Dear Edward—lf ever you want to speak to me or see me about anything, go up the paddock on Thursday morning so as father may not see you. I think that you seemed rather white or sick. Is anything the .natter with you 1 I love you as much and belter than I have done before, so cheer up. lam having such a time of it. My father is so cross and angry we can’t move or speak for him. My heft love to you and a kiss, and I remain, yours affectionately, Emily Keiling. Mr Keeling made the following statement at the inquest“ My' daughter Emily Mary Keeling would have been eighteen years of age this month. She had been acquainted with Fuller (who lived close by) for some t me, but was not keeping company with him, but he returned from Dargaville at Christmas, and since then has haunted her.. She did tier best to avoid him. He asked ua for her two years ago, when she was a little more thm fifteen years of age, hut we of conr e refund. Last night my langhv.-r w ent "it <o go to the Al x.indra - meet cliuroh, t) the Bible dm-s, mi l I know nothing (ifrefxc.pt «h ■ I h vo earned fr >m Miss Burgess. We have oti'y on ' »"u, about nine'em years oh], now res’ding m Brisbane, J, E. Thomas, s or-keeper, after deposing to hearing the shots and seeing he g’rl running across to him ciying, “Oil, save me, ” says he went between her and r.he man. and she fell down on his doorstep. He continues: “I then, with the assistance of my son fin. Thomas, carried her into the house, and ,my wife came to assist us. My son immediately started in a Ira which we found close by for the doctor, and Dr Liwsoo return'd with him, arriving shortly after ,7 o’clock. The doctor found two shot wounds wli'Ci had been inflicted on her, both entering her breast, and apparently penetrating the lungs and heart. She was then alive and conscious, and spoke to my wife"" iel ingher that Fuller had shot her, but gave no explanation why he bad done so. She retained consciousness to the end, and lied about fifteen minutes past 7 o’clock.”