KILLS HIS SWEETHEART

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 809, 26 January 1903, Page 3

KILLS HIS SWEETHEART

Buffalo, U.S.A., Nov. 8.

Christopher Willis, twenty-two years old, a student at the Normal School at Genesee, shot abd killed his sweetheart, Mary Ferguson, seventeen years old, of bath, this afternoon, and then committed suicide. The double tragedy occurred soon after 3 o’clock in the dooryard in front of No. 136 Swan street, this city, where the young woman was visiting her brother, Lee Ferguson. Jealousy was the motive which prompted Willis’ act. He had come here from Genesee during the morning to visit Miss Ferguson and hor brother. She told him of the many little attentions which four or five of her brother’s friends had shown to her duriDg her stay in Buffalo. This angered Willis, and he rebuked the young woman for having permitted men to show her any attentions. She resented his scolding and was inclined to snub him because of his presumption.

The three youDg people went out for a walk during the morning. Willis left them for a few minutes, Baying he wanted to buy a cigar. While he was absent he purchased a pistol and a supply of cartridges, which ho Kept concealed in the pocket of his overcoat. Miss Ferguson was to have returned to Bath with him, but on returning from a walk ho detained the girl in the yard while the brother went on to his room. The young woman turned to talk with Willis when he suddenly pulled the revolver from his pocket and shot her behind the right ear. Turning the revolver upon himself Willis fired three shots into his chest and a fourth into his head. Willis fell dead and the girl expired soon after reaching the Emergency Hospital.