MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1258, 9 April 1886, Page 3

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

The Press Association report an awful tragedy to have occurred at Auckland on the evening of the; 2nd inst., the circumstances of which appear to he a? follow, HOW THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED. Edward Fuller, a young-man, resided with his brother-iu-laW, . Jenkins, a builder, in King street, Arch Hill. -He was a l&borer, And had worked in'some of the brickyards. He left town about a year and a-half ago for Kuipara, .and-re-turned to Auckland at. Christmas, since wljich he lived with his brother-in-lawV-Emily Mary Keiling, ' the Victim- of the-’ tragedy, was 17 years of age. Fuller was apparently mad In love, .with'her, and when she was only 15 years, of age, rather more than two years _ ago, he made proposals to her parents to marry her. Miss Keiling, however, did* not reciprocate his passion, and indeed tried to avoid him, although he endeavored to meetfher constant!}'. Last evening she was on her way to the Bible-class meeting at the Alexandra street Church, when she was met by Puller at the earner of King *nd Stanley afreets. What conversation passed between them is not known, for it was almost momentary. He seised her by the arm arid discharged two shots from a small six-chambered bulldog revolver into her breast. The actual firing waa not' seen: by anyone,-.but'the report* were heard by several persons, in--eluding Miss Burgess, (who had just passed themVand Thomas,;» storekeeper,, who resideairi the vicinity., The bullets-entered her breaa f . and ,ilie,iw»s I^le i to . rnn anro,ss the road to Mr Thomas's shop* when she fell fainting: on the doorstep. Medical assistance was at once, sent for, but the poor girl died within half-an-honr of being shot. Fuller, with, some insane idea of escape possibly in his mind, ran 'at full •peed towards Brisbane street, the corner of which he tarried, and at the side of George Dearness’s,bouse he .deliberately shot himself through the mouth, and fell dead instantaneously. V ‘ Mr Jenkins and Mr Railing, reside in; Kfng street, only one house dividing them. It was at the corner of King arid Stanley streets, just opposite Mr Thomas’s grocery sto-e, that the girl was shot. There is a gradual rise in the street towards Brisbane street, running parallel with the Great North road. It was pretty dark at the tiros, hut not so dark as to prevent passersby observing-the two ; for Miss Buagessjs distinct in her affirmation that Miss KeiL ing endeavoured to pass . Fuller, that he prevented her and grasped her arm, and just after she passed she heard two shots fired in rnnid succession and the screams of Miss Keiling. who was then running towards Theraas’s store. After- the murder a boy named Arthur Stranan, 11 years of age, who resides ■with his parents in Stanley street, saw Fuller-run past towards Brisbane street,, and observed him turn the corner, and just-then he heard the report of a shot. lie ran to the place, which,was only some 50 or 60 yards dstant, and just under the wall of Stanton’s house he saw Fuller lying on bis face and bleeding,, Deceased lav almost face downwards. In . his right hand he held a revolver under his right Bide, with his thumb, not his finger, on the triggerguard, The bullet had been fired into the mouth, and lodged in the nape of the heck, a little to the left side. Death must have been instantaneous. The body was removed to Jenkins’s bouse, where the fearful spectacle nearly paralysed Mrs Jenkins, sister of the deceased, and the members ot the family. - THE MOTIVE. In letters written by Fuller to Mias Keiling he threatened to her unless she yielded to his suit. THE SCENE AT THE' KEILTNGS RESIDENCE.

It was a distressing' scene at • the residence of Mr and Mfs-'Kedina last night. The terrible disaster* Avhrch- had - befallen them seemed to have jilipost paralysed .them. The'display the isarne tokens of grief as his distressed wife, indeed,.'waSM mV.*sSM:hf 3M "fine daughter, laid out in her death clothes jhefore '.Sthanfi MO9 .their bereaveipgnt, , , ; „ ... ? Mrs Keiliag has,made ,tba. .following iKeiling was 17 years of age last birthday, month Snanaa been acquainted with Fuller (who lived close by) for sometime ; but waa Bo{"k»epiisg': > aahtpagyi':3t||th him. He returned from Dargavillo at Christmas, and since then has - hsnnted her, but she did her beal(.. to, avoid him. -Haaskod-ua. ■ for her two.vearji, ago. whhV hhe was little more than 14 years of age, - but we 6! course refused. -• Last night my daughter - went out to go to Alexandra’street • Ghiirpti to a Bible o'ass. and ! kao’w nothing-more except whit I learnt from - Mi»s Burgess’. We have only, one roc. about J9 years, now residing in Brishab'e A r ~ u • • ’ ? -

;ST\TEMEST»_.j>^ ; By SLABBERS. Jahez Ellwand Timings,. a storekeeper at the co'ner of King and' Stanley streets, states: “ I was in my shop about 20 . minutes to 7 p.m. when I'heanl-1 ho report of firearms Vat once ran, to the door and lookacross the street saw. a eirl standing at the opposite corner 1 heard her scream and also saw n mati alongside her, Untdid not recognise him at. the time. I ran across, and she cried 1 Oh’! save me. 1 I went between them, and the man then ran up Stanley street towards' Brisbane street. The girl at the sanVe time ran across the road towards mjr shop and sat down on tha doorstep' for a Tefw seconds wh«n she fell forward and'again’ cried “OH !- save me.”' -I- then, with the assistance of rav son Wm. Thomas, carried her into the house,- and my wife came to assist ns. My son immediately started in a trap, which we found close by, for the doctor, and Dr Ijiwson returned with him dnvine, shortly after 7 o’clock. The doctor found that two shot wounds had been inflicted on, both entering the breast, and apparently penetrating the lungs and heart. She wa,s then alive and conscious, and s[ioke to my wife, telling her that Fuller had shot her. bnt cave no explanation why-he had-done so' She retained rnnseinnancss in the end, and died about 15 MV-n'cs easi 7 b’c’oek *' * TV. t.'lhpinas also unites a'■la’cment in which he says says “ I was .lyjng on a sola iii the house when I heard two reports.

which at first I thought were shutters falling down. 1 fan but then,' arid found .Miss Keiling on the doorstep, my father holding her in . his anna. laaristed ip getting her into th •hj mse and then ran for a doctor.;. At the corner of the street 1 saw a trap belongin; to Gampion, and jumping on it called Campion and drove to Dr Lawson’s residence,: fCarapgahapo road. Dr Lawson at once returned with us in the trap.” THE MURDERER.i Edward Puller was a young man. about 21 or 22 years old, of, moderate build, fair complexion, without heard, having only ' A light moustache, and had been usually employed as a laborer. He was employed for some time in a brick yard, but recently had been working in the Northern Wairoa district, from which he returned Christmas, and since thin had been chiefly engaged assisting his brother-in-law, Jenkins, in building contracts. Ha bore a very good reputation, possessed a quiet, nice manner, and never displayed any eccentricities beyond extreme fondness for this girl. THE VICTIM. The victim. Miss Emily Mary Keiling, was the only daughter of Mr George Railing, a bricklayer, ami his wife Mrs Emily Keiling. She was a most engaging, intelligent young woman, and was a general favorite with' her comnauions, especially in the classes of the Primitive Method lit Church, Alexandra street, ; She resided. Wi hj her parents in King street, and was .not engaged inlany business.

FURTHER DETAILS. Ariinquest on the bodies will be held ton day before Mr Philsnn, Coroner, when further details as to the state of Fuller's mind recen'ly, and how he became possessed of the revolver (which is manifestly a new one) will be elicited. The following letters were found upon Fuller: Dear Sisters and Brothers—This will be the last time that 1 shall bo able to write to you, for by the time jrou get this letter I shall be dead, as I am going to shoot myself to-night. Life is a misery to me now. I love Emily Keiling »e no one ever loved before, and she cannot go with me because she is afraid her father would .make a-row. again. If she had. consented when 1 asked him tbe 'first tim’J this would never have happened. 1 don’t think she likes me so well now as she did then. It don't matter where I go. I cannot stop, and that is the reason I could not stop at Henlerson’s Mill. So I have made up my mind to shoot myself, as I cannot live without her. I shall.speak to her to night and ask her whether she will have men without her father’s consent. If she.objects, we.will both die together. ■ .Yon can divide ray money between you and Lizzie. So now 1 bid yon all good bye for ever.— I am. your loviiig brother, Edwin James Fuller. Dear Edward—l am writing this letter to you on the qniet. Mother told me I was not to write tp.you. We are going put to-night to a tea meeting down at church. If yon are anywhere about I will speak to you. I dmi’t - know whether we are going out on Wednesday'night, so am very sorry (hit I cannot see you, hut you know that.it if nob my fault. Mother says that if father saw me with you lie w->uid not let me go with you at all, and she says she will try to make him let me go wiih yon before lam 18. I would go with you if I could, you know that. On Saturday morning I think my father saw you go out, because he said be might hj ; up O . New North road, and 1 did not want to bo caught.- 1 do,pot. tbipk" you hive me ns much .as you say you do, ofeldfc yon-would; not do things that'yori'are- ashamed to-lyt me see. I thou-hb it made you look very ■ low to he smoking a pipe. If ever Ihar of you drinking, even if you only taste it, I shall give you up, although it would be hard for raa. My mother was very much surprised at you. She would not believe it was you till we got up to you. Bessie gave me such a scolding on Sun lay, but I only , laughed at her, an 1 told her she was anollmaid. You must not bo offended ; I dou’t mean anything by whit 1 said. Please write to me as soon as you can. You must excuse writing, as you know -I ,ain unwell, and I am sitting up to write this to you ; and I am in my nightdress, and it is cold. My very best love to yon and a kiss, —I remain, dear, yours truly, Emily M. Keiling.

Dear Edward—lt ever yon want to speak to me or see me about anything, go up to the paddock mi Thursday morning so as father may not see yon. I think that you seemed rather white or sick. Is anything the matter with you ? I iove you as much, and better, than I have done before ; so cheer up.' I am' having such a time of it j my father is so cro i and angry we cannot move or spaik for him. My host love to you and a his*. —I remain, yours affection,ate!y, Emiiy Kbii.tvo.