MURDER OF GEORGE KING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1729, 23 June 1917, Page 4

MURDER OF GEORGE KING.

KEITH SHAW SENTENCED TO DEATH. Sydney, June 19. Keith Shaw has been .sentenced to death for the Katoomba murder. The jury strongly recommended mercy owing to prisoner’s mental faculties being below normal. His brother Lionel was acquitted. George King, a commercial traveller, w;as murdered about 4 o’clock on the morning of April 2nd, at the California boardinghouse, Gang Gang Street, Katoomba. He was hit over the head several times with a heavy blunt instrument, supposed to be a hammer, and his skull fractured badly. He lingered for two days, when he died in the Abbotsford Private Hospital, Katoomba. BOY’S TERRIBLE CONFESSION. “ABSOLUTE PLEASURE—MY. 1 AMUSED MIND.”' The following confession made by Shaw, who is 19 years of age, was read at the inquest by the police;— “My name is Herbert Keith Shaw, single man, until recently employed as a clerk in the office of Messrs Ellison Rich and Son, solicitors. I reside at ‘Glenelg,’ Cambridge St., Paddington. “1 wish voluntarily to make a statement in connection with an assault committed up on a Mr King at four o’clock this morning. “During the past three weeks I have been residing at the California, Katoomba, with my brother Lionel, where we have been spending holidays. On Saturday last I noticed a diamond ring on Mr Kingjs linger, and gradually a keen desire to own same crept upon me. After tea last night a longing for this ring overcame every part of my mind, and the idea of taking his life did not seem in any way an obstacle in obtaining it. This thought, together with the idea of carrying out this operation, ruled supreme in my brain. Knowing Inal the said Mr King was going (nit, I also went for a walk to put in the time. I went asleep accidentally in the Katoomba Reserve, and when I woke up it was about halt-past three this morning. 1 then came back to the house, and weid along to do as my mind willed. I opened the door of Mr King’s room with absolute pleasure, and walked, straight over to the bed and dealt him seven or eight blows with no more conscience than if I had been serving tennis halls. I was fearless of anybody seeing me, as 1 left the door open, and look no hoed of his cries, which I believe awoko all within hearing. 1 then took (he ring off his hand, which was then covered with blood and after doing so was about to depart with light spirits. WANTED TO BE ROMANTIC, As I was about to walk out, a voice as from the deep came from a ratht*r stout gentleman in (he next room. The words were, “What’s your game ?" and then lie was silent once more. How ever, he had made another idea come into my then amused mind, an idea to be romantic. So I tied a couple of blankets together, and sat on the window for two or three minutes thinking if there was anything else I might do. The next thing that crossed my mind was money, so down I bopped and looked for same. Having found three notes each for one pound, I seemed satisfied then, and Jumped dean out of the window, ignoring my previously-made means of descent. I landed all right, after escaping with a very slight scratch on the right hand, which was caused by a piece of wire-fencing round a small garden underneath. 1 passed another window on my way, and expected to‘hear and see something from someone or other occupying the room to which (he window belonged. My next move was to take a walk as far as Sans Souci, another boarding establishment, about one hundred yards from the California. Outside this plain l T deposited the hammer which .1 had used. I also threw a little bank-note ease, which I got with the notes, to the wind. • BURIED THE RING. On returning to the house to go to bed an idea seized me to hide the .ring for fear of losing it, so I just lifted a little earth near the front gate and covered the ring up. Then I went to my room, and on opening the door found one Mrs Alexander speaking to my brother Lionel, with one of the windows which adjoins her room to ours open. She then saw me come in, and told me that there had been a fight in the next room. I might mention that her room was between Mr King’s and my own. I then got undressed and went to sleep. At ahout six this morning 1 was aroused by the party that was about to leave for the Caves. Not feeling sleepy I got up and decided to go for a walk to Echo Point. After going

halfway I began to think about what I had done, so I thought I would go and see my mother before the police took any action. I knew there was enough evidence in the room of the crime to convict me, and 1 engaged a car from a Mr Cropley, of Warn - tali Street, to take me. I was eager for the trip, as I thought I might never get the chance of one again. So I enjoyed it. On the way down I thought of calling on Mrs Hutchison and asking her advice. She advised me to go at once to the police, of which organisation I found two respectable members at my home in Paddington. To end up, I will say that I remembered leaving a grey bow and a handkerchief in Air King’s room. This i’s all I have to say about the matter.