STRANGE LOVER.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 164, 23 July 1901, Page 3

STRANGE LOVER.

lIIS THREAT TO MURDER. The following is some of tho evidence given m the charge at Christchurch against Peter Dunn, who was committed for trial : Elizabeth Woodbury stated that she was living with her father at Wilson’s road. She had known the accused for about two years and six months, and had boon on

friendly terms with him. Quarrels occurred at intervals. Letters passed frequently, but there was no engagement, and on one occasion she refused a ring. This was about twelve months ago. After the ring had been returned the defendant begged her to renew the former friendly relations, and promised not to quarrel with her any more. Further quarrels,

however, took place aftorwards. The quarrels wore chiefly upon trivial matters, but the accused used to threaten that he would go round to her house and smash all the windows if she did not go out with him. One night he frightened her by showing her a razor when she refused’to go out with him. On the ovening of July sth, she was escorted home by a gentleman friend, and on the following evening she received a letter from the accused, containing, inter alia, the following:—“ If I had known you were going t-o see that fellow, I would have blown your brains out. God knows I love you. It came that hard on mo that I did not think there is anyone or anything that would prevent me carrying out what I have said. lam quite ready to die when you are dead. If ever I see that fellow walking out with you, it will he when tho wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” In another letter, which arrived in the same envelope as the above, the accused said, referring to the fact of the gentleman uccompanying her homo : —“ If I had only have knovyn of this two days ago, it would have caused a gloom all over Christchurch.” She saw the accused on July sth, and he caught hold of her and said, “ I want you.” She replied that she did not want him, and then went in. About twelve months ago she received another threatening letter from the accused. She had never received any love letters from any other gentleman. She had frequently t-old the accused that she wanted the matter between them ended, and about four weeks ago she wrote and told him so. The witness then identified a number of letters as in the handwriting of- the accused.

To Mr Donnelly : She had written thirty or forty letters, couched in friendly terms, to the accused. She had addressed him as “ Aly dear sweetheart,” My boy.” “Dear Peter,” “Dearest,” “Aly dearest hoy,” and in April she addressed him as “ Dear Peter.” Since April she had written him a letter asking him to end the affair. The quarrels were repeatedly made up, but the last one she had determined not to make up. The witness would not answer a question as to whether she would write such letters to other young men. Continuing the witness said that she had been afraid of the accused for a long time. She considered now that she was in danger, for she had been seared out- of her life, She had not been told that she was in danger, but she was positively sure of it.