Pretty Barmaid on Trial for Murder

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 192, 3 November 1927, Page 13

Pretty Barmaid on Trial for Murder

BOXER FATALLY SHOT DEATH OF BILLY CHAMBERS The death in Sydney last month of Billy Chambers, the lightweight boxer, who was well known in New Zealand, had its sequel last Wednesday week in Sydney, w hen a pretty barmaid, Florence May Masters, was cited for trial on a charge of murder. Chambers’s real name was Edward Anthony "Waldhoer. He died in hospital as a result of a bullet wound in the abdomen. A statement alleged to have been made by the girl l'elated how Waldhoer, with whom she lived, rushed after her into the street and how she fired an automatic. Dressed in deep black, the girl sobbed while waiting for the evidence to begin at the Coroner’s Court. MEDICAL EVIDENCE Waldhoer, according to Dr. Sillar, was admitted to St. Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst. on October 5, under the name of William Chambers, suffernig from a bullet wound through the left side of the abdomen, says the Sydney “Evening News.” The bullet was embedded on the other side. Waldhoer was operated on, but his condition became worse. Another operation was performed on October 8, but Waldhoer died that night. Arthur Thomas Smith, motor driver, 323 Abercrombie Street, Redfern, said deceased was his brother-in-law. Waldhoer resided at 19 Barcom Avenue, Darlinghurst, with Miss Masters. They lived as man and wife. Waldhoer was a man of temperate habits and quiet disposition. Waldhoer had furnished a room at witness’s home two days before his death, saying that he and the girl had quarrelled and were going to separate. Deceased had a revolver, which the girl had brought from Tasmania. £3O FIGHTS

In reply to Mr. Moseley, who appeared on behalf of Mr. J. B. Moffat, for the relatives of deceased, witness said that Waldhoer had eight fights after his return from New Zealand last year. He got from £3O to £SO each for them, and averaged £ 5 or £ 6 a week as sparring partner to “Sunny Jim” Williams and Billy Grime. Waldhoer had the revolver about five months.

Mr. Moseley: After he was slashed by the razor gang?—Yes. On his return from New Zealand Waldhoer gave Miss Masters £BS. She was of an excitable temperament and jealous nature. Sergeant Lynch said that about 9.30 a.m. on October 5 he saw deceased at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Waldhoer said he was cleaning his automatic that morning. It accidentally went off and shot him in the stomach. “You’ve been in trouble before. Are you sure that it went off accidentally?” witness asked, and Waldhoer replied, “Yes, if it were any of the mob I would tell you.” He declined to make a statement to a magistrate. Later, at Darlinghurst police station, Miss Masters started to cry, and stated she was frightened in the morning. “BEATING ME”

“He has been beating me and knocking me about,” she said, and showed witness her right hand, the ring finger of which was bruised and swollen. The back of her hand was also bruised. She had a slight discolouration under the right eye and a bruise on the arm. She said that Waldhoer did it the previous night and that she had other bruises on her body. She took witness to a lane running to Womerah Avenue, where she said she shot deceased. She said: “I did not mean to hurt him, I fired at him because I was afraid he was going to attack In a statement which Sergeant Lynch said the girl made, it was stated: “I am a divorced woman, and for the past three years I have been living with Edward Chambers. Occasionally Chambers and I had quarrels. On Monday, October 3, we had a quarrel and he struck and punched me about the body. . . . About 1.30 a.m. on October 5 Chambers came home under the influence of drink. He started to illtreat me. by punching me. I left him in the bedroom and slept in a bed in the dining-room. .*. About 8 a.m. I went, down and paid the rent, leaving my fur coat in the dining-room. When I returned he had both my fur coats locked up and would not give them to me. I put on an old brown coat I had. Just as I was leaving to go to work, Chambers said, ‘I will go down to where you are working, and cause an argument, so you will be put off/ There was an automatic pistol on the dressing table. I put it in my handbag. ... I went out into the lane leading into Womerah Avenue. “I’LL SHOOT” “Chambers rushed after me. I said: ‘lf you come near me, I’ll shoot/ He rushed at me to catch hold of me. When he was about two feet from me I fired the pistol. Chambers fell to the ground. I helped him to his feet and he then ran inside the house, irfto the flat. I followed him. 'He said: ‘Ring up the doctor/ I went downstairs to Miss Sherry’s flat and asked her to ring the doctor. “At that time I had the pistol in my hand. Chambers called me upstairs and said to me, ‘Put the pistol in my coat pocket/ I put it in his pocket and it was found there by the police. “Later, I spoke to him at St. Vincent’s Hospital. I told him I was sorry for what I had done. He said: ‘I forgive you/ “At the time I fired the shot I was in fear that Chambers would do me some injury, and I fired the shot in self-defence.” WOMAN’S WOUNDS Detective-Sergeant Miller said that about three months ago Miss Masters went to Darlinghurst Police Station. She had two black eyes, a cut on the face, and a bruise on the right leg. Blood was still oozing from her face. Witness went to see Waldhoer the same night and found him in bed, apparently under the influence of liquor. He told Waldhoer that the girl had complained that he had taken £B4 and a diamond ring from her. He replied that the money was his. Asking about the alleged assault, Waldhoer replied: “She deserved a sight more.” The girl then said she did not wish to prosecute.