Murder Through Jealousy

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 35, 25 March 1884, Page 3

Murder Through Jealousy

A deliberate murder, was committed at Paddington, near Sydney, on the after. noon o^4B February^ io a house occupied by three persoas, two men and a woman the latter of whom appears to have been the cause of the tragedy. TJie murderer, who w!i laSed^Tm. fiic«, aged 23,'^as living with the women referred to, Sophia Holmes. About a, week ago James Griffin, the victim, went to lire at the same house,#nd;.between~K,ice and Griffin there arose a feeling of jealousy about the women. They had* quarrel at about S o'clock in the afternoon, in the coarse of which iEiee (Jreir'al revolver 'arid*! fired several shots at Griffin, who Ml dead f two shots having takenreffectin his heart. Bice escaped, but was shortly, afterward arrested and locked up on a Charge of wilful murder. An enquiry was held by the city coroner at the South Sydney morgue next afternoon. The . prisoner, William Sice^ wits' present in custody. According, to ithe^Jevidence ;it\ appeared that Rice went home at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, aiid found th'fe deceased Griffin m c^pab^' ; witna_girl named Sophia Holmes, with whom the : prisoner bad been livings - ! Eice' wis '• Half and, proceedinjs. to.' hiii : '6«lrp|)mVtook a loaded rerotVer,*^fir^^'|thrniy4 The f hoViioweverr-did not- take -effect, -and - the deceaseViVVan' Mo'-the^ iiext house, but came b,ack agwiiirw^ T thj^ intention of taking^ Tf^ „ ; Before he oould. J do } *?. ;j»9* e ,yer r , ,-the:^prisoner/ fired several shots at Griffin, .who Jrop. peddead JftJ'the'^firi-plaee, one ©f tne' bullets hav^'p^ce^his- left lung^ and deart W^mskfiK 16 ** . of *k&< $m*fr but was *hortlfl Tafeer.wardt arrested/ On being tirttei iirttf ?eustody he . s»id k to' the constable^ *"ifers; is the tTiird-time'-I have been »i;r^§4 $& *<> otin R- %rs**;--arre«tei.o.nfle w .lf ejbpn.rne and ;^nce,,m Sydney- before." The prisoner declined . to- a«k the' ' ?i witniess%y ''any^ iqfuestibns. ' against William !Rice,:who>was committed: for trial at theHgriminal Sessions. •