Love, Murder, and Suicide

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 127, 6 April 1886, Page 3

Love, Murder, and Suicide

TEAGEDY IN AUCKLAND. FUETHEE PAETICULAES. TEE UNITED PBESB ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, Aj.ril 2. So far as can be ascertained, the circumstances appear to be as follows : — Edward Fuller, a young man, resided with bis brother-in-law, Mr Jenkins, builder, in King street, ArchflL He was a laborer, and worked in some of the brickyards. Emily Mary Kelling, the victim of the tragedy, was 17 years of age. Fuller, apparently, was ma.dly in love with lier, and when she was only 15 years of age, or rather more than two years £tgo f he made proposals to her parents to marry her.- Miss Kelling was on Jier way to the Bible-class meeting at the Alexandra street Church, when she was met by Fuller at the corner of King and Stanley streets. He seized her by the arm and discharged two shots from a small six-chambered bull-dog revolver into her breast. The reports were heard by several persons, including Miss Burgess and Mr Thomas, a storekeeper, who resides in the vicinity. The bullets entered her breast, and she was only able . to run across the road to Mr Thomas' shop, when she fell fainting I on the doerstep. Medical assistance was at once sent for, but the poor girl died within half an hour of being shot. Fuller ran at full speed for some distance, and then shot himself through the mouth, and fell dead. It was pretty dark at the time, but not so dark as to prevent passers by observing the two forms. Miss Burgess is distinct in her affirmation that Miss Kelling endeavored to pass Fuller, that he prevented her, and grasped her arm, and just after she had passed she heard the two shots fired in rapid succession, and the screams of Miss Kelling, who was then running towards Mr Thomas' store. A boy named Arthur Shanaghan found Fuller lying on his face and bleeding. The deceased lay almost face downward. In bis right hand he held a revolver under his right side, with his thumb, not bis finger, on the trigger guard. The bullet had been fired into his mouth, and lodged in the nape of his neck, a little to the left side. Death must have been instantaneous. The body was removed to Mr Jenkins' house, where the fearful spectacle nearly paralysed Mrs Jenkins, sister of deceased, and the members of the family. Two letters were found on the body of Fuller. One was written by the unfortunate girl t© Fuller, adfritting her love for him, and advising him to avoid her parents. The second letter was written by Fuller to his brothers and sisters, avowing his love for Miss Kelling, and also his determination to shoot himself, on account of the opposition of Miss Kelling's parents to their marriage.