A MIDNIGHT FIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1925, Page 4

A MIDNIGHT FIGHT

A bottle ok disinff.ctam . LONDON'. Sept. 21. A lire Davies (Xli. living with hoi I'iitlior :>t -i miihll toffee shop in Beth , i; ,| (;r.... 11 . was aroused ;it midnight , ;, lu |. having all intuition that a bnrglal luas m her bedroom. stretched out hot ha in i and felt a. man crawling on tin: {lour. She streamed, anti her lathoi rushed in. There was a helve Hit ml several minutes, and when Alim re[turned with assistance loth men wi-r* Ivinjj; on the floor, motionless. The father soon recovered, hut the I stralifter was unconscious. He was removed to an infirmary, where he died, lie was identified as Joseph Williamson, thirty years of age. ft transpires that Williamson, who was separated from his wile and familv. habitually dined at the coffee shop, ami was friendly for months with Miss Davies, until she learned that I her lover was married, and dismissed him. When both men were exhausted, the father alleged, Williamson drank from a bottle of disinfectant. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of suicide. Alice Davies identified messages in Williamson's handwriting, scribbled on a cardboard box on the dressing table. “Alice, don't speak." said one. “or vour life is in danger. I warn you. Joe is in your room. Study your life and mine.—Yours evert’ She added that Williamson told her: "If I can’t have you no one 01-c shall.’’ The poli<e gave evidence that they liscovered a knife and other weapons n the room. The coroner expressed the opinion .hat Williamson's intention was to mmler Alice Davies, and then dramatically to commit suicide.