THE THAMES SENSATION

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 511, 6 September 1902, Page 2

THE THAMES SENSATION

A LITTLE OF WHELAN’S CHARACTER.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Thames, last night. The charge of attempted murder, preferred against Myra Taylor, was heard at the Police Court to-day. The evidence of Whelan was similar to the details already published. He admitted intimacy with accused for four years up lo within a month of his marriage. Whelan was Still in the box when the Court adjourned.

REMARKABLE EYTDENCE. ILLICIT RELATIONS BETWEEN ACCUSED AND WHELAN. By Telegraph—Press Association— Thames, last night. The charge of attempted murder which Michael Whelan preferred against Myra Taylor, a married woman, aged 3S, was heard at the Police Court to-day. Great interest was taken in tho case. The Court-house was packed. The evidence of the attack was s imilar to that already telegraphed. Whelan, in the course of his evidence, stated that he was married the day alter tho shooting occurred. He knew Mrs Taylor six or seven years ago. At that time there was Mrs Taylor, her husband, and one child about eight years of age, Their intimacy extended over a period of five and a-hall years. During that period they had been praclically lovers. He was not fond of her. The affection was all on her side. Frequently he resented her affections. He remembered Mrs Taylor giving birth to a child about five years ago. Neither child was ever in Taylor’s home, but put out to nurse in Auckland. The reason he wrote to her affectionate letters was that he had to do it. Otherwise she would have come out and made a show in front of everybody. She had done it at the Thames, and would have done it there again. Accused, who burst into tears, cried out: “ I did not! 1 did not! ”

Detective Millar, who arrested the accused, stated that he boarded tho steamer at Paerou. Ho saw accused in the smokoroom. At first she was drossed in the male suit of clothes. Sho said that her name was Jack Lennox. Ho said, “ Where do you bolong to?” She objected to being cross questioned. She had another coat and vest, a pair of boots, man’s shirt and flannel, towel, table knife, etc. She put her hand in her left breast pocket. Thinking, probably, that she had a revolver, he caught her hand. Sho had her hand cn a bottle of laudanum, which was about half full. She said, “ I waut to soc you privately.” He walked her off the steamer, and charged her with the attempted murder of Michael Whelan. She said: “ I was mad. I had to do it. I think it must have gone off itself. I did not know I had touched him until I saw blood.” Tho pockets of accused woro searched, and there was found a quantity of gum used for sticking two pigments, one for darkening tho eyebrows and another for coloring the skin.

Accused was committed for trial. She frequently burst into tears, and upbraided Whelan while the latter was giving evidenco.

' Ijail wp.s allowed of £SOO, including sureties.