DOCTOR'S WIDOW SHOT

Shannon News, 18 February 1927, Page 2

DOCTOR'S WIDOW SHOT

BY INSANE JLOVER FATAL JEALOUSY Sydney society circles were shock-ed on" Wednesday when Mrs. Paul, a cultured, beautiful widow, was shot dead at her home by Reno Van der Velde, who had been wildly in love with her for years. Mrs. Paul, widow of Dr. Paul, who was killed years ago in a country motor accident, was a brilliant conversationalist, moved in the best circles and had many friends in high places. Van der Veldc was in the employ of a city sweet manufactory, and had been paying court to the beautiful widow for years, though sho never gave him any reason to hope that marriage would result. She was, as a matter of fact, immensely rich. j It was while she was spending a holiday at Fiji that she del Velde, and when he came to Sydney two years ago, he became a constant visitor to her home. In the past twelve months he had been her constant attendant, though her friends say he forced himself upon her, and tho widow was afraid of him. He had a violent, ungovernable temper, and Mrs. Paul had been trying to shake him off for months. Following a particularly bad break on his part last week, Mrs. Paul sent him away and told him not to return. But on Wednesday he called at her home in Wollstonecraft, where she had a sumptuously furnished bungalow, and forced his way past the maid. He stormed into tho . lounge and commenced an argument with Mrs. Paul, who asked her maid to remain in the room.

Van der Velde. who for a month had been carrying a revolver and a bottlo of poison with him constantly, allowed his temper full rein, and, drawing his gun, ordered the maid from the room.

Mrs. Paul remonstrated with him; and for answer he walked over and shot her dead.

While the maid was telephoning the police she heard two more shots, and running in saw Van der Velde sink down on the couch. "It's too late," ho said. "I've shot Mrs. Paul and taken poison myself."

He remained conscious for some hours, but died subsequently in hospital. Van der Velde, believed to be a Belgian, was brought up in Noumea. Ho was of an unstable type, with uncontrolled emotions, and was always experiencing tempestuous lovo attacks.

In the case of the widow, however, he was genuinely in love, and it was his selfish jealousy—he had said he would never let anyone elso get her—which was the cause of the tragedy.