A Novel in Real Life.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 195, 22 August 1904, Page 2

A Novel in Real Life.

IMPASSIONED CONFESSION OF

MURDER. VIVID STUDY IN EMOTION,

The confession of George Breeze, now in custody on a charge of .murdering Margaret Cbisholni, tho wile of a Soahaia Harbour collier, is *n extraordinary document—a history of passion and jealously, and a written proof of the existence in one mind of strangely conflicting emotions. At the inquest, says a London paper, tho husband told how he and the prisoner wore friends, working .at. the same pit and playing football together. The prisoner lived • with I'heni, to 0 , sleeping in the*sanio room as witness, his niuidered wife, ami their child. Droozo was found reading a publication called "Famous Crimes," said Chisholin, and he often talked about its contents.

Tho husband never suspected that there was anything between the lodger and his wife, and Breeze does not appear to have lot anyone know bis iedings towards her. ChisHolin admitted having worked irregularly,and said that the, lodger paid his wife more money than was due. Two letters were found in the house in Breeze's handwriting'. One was as follows :—'•'! confess 1 have killod the only woman 1 have over loved because silie was true. 1 have gono to Durham to give myself up, hoping when the time comes I shall die happy. May tho Lord cherish her as one of his goodly creatures. She was u piece of Nature's handiwork. Please give this box to my mother.,—Yours, G. Breeze." "SHE WAS UNHAPPY." Another note Baid, "Why did he go to work and leave me to cause my own destruction and the death of one whom 1 loved mom than my own life ? Why did 1 kill such ta youug life V Because she was unhappy and I was unhappy." Tho confession which Breeze handed to tho police was also read. It was as follows : "1 tho undersigned, confess that I killed Meg Ashworth, legally Mrs (Jhisholm, in a fit of mad passion, driven to desperation by her handsomo face, Sho made me do what Cod never ordained iimii to do. Still, as the world goca merrily round, some must be happy and some miserable. While 1 never knew that life was happy, night after'..night my mind was throbbing thinking of her. 1 adorod her more than the very world, ovtn more than thoso that are dear to mo. It makes your mind uneasy when you see the only woman you ever loved married to another,! to bo tortured by the pangs ol hun-l ger, while ho enjoys the pleasures of! this cruel, heartrending world. "When life is young some say thut' all the money in the world could not i buy its sweetness, but money could | have bought my sweetness, because' when you are poor you are trampled : upon like a worm while others trample upon velvet carpets. "SCROLL OF A MURDERER"

"Fellow workmen, forget that once I was one of your mates, because, you are not to be dassodi with me.as ' I now write my name with the scroll of n murderer—a—murderer in God's llight, but not in my own, because she was unhappy and she knew she was tied by the bonds of matrimony. Teople might say I will regret what 1 huvo done, but such is not tho case. When the_ time comes 1 will be ready to golo the scaffold, taking three steps at a time, and also put tho ropo round my own neck because I know that we ore both to 1 meet where there ia plenty and no one' to laugh ami jeer. i "I am very sorry to have put the club I was about to play for, Sea-! ham Aluion Football Club, to any trouble. 1 should have boon with my old club, bonny Scaham White Star ' ,1 hopo my namo will soon bo fori' gotun. I a i so h0 , )0 that hcr | half-starved child will be brought to i sparkling- face.

Verbally, to Supertcndent Waller Breeze said. "I strangled her. si,„ o-d me t |, at hcr husband £ was jealous of us two, and that s . tier be a, ly honu in Nl i ' :*° u ., d M;e .-aid, l don't ca,«. Y rion 't Uhink you would v„„ i. l heart' T ,?, . ou have not the n,,,,' ( I* 1 '"! strangled her, l am I ,lf ,I°''r ,e ''' but * w »"Wnotha e r^oVit^'^'' o '^-'-

In answer to the coroner, Ilreczo saad he w„ s ,guilty, and read- to T to-morrow. * L A verdict of wilful murder was returned against ham.