Murdered in Bed.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 213, 13 September 1904, Page 4

Murdered in Bed.

REJECTED LOVER CUTS HIS SWEETHEART'S THROAT, ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Dfllston was the scene of a, terrible

love tragedy recently. An ex-soldier, who haid been (driven almost frantic because his sweetheart refused to continue their engagement, (broke into the house where tine girl lived, made his way into her bedroom and cut her .throat w|ith a razor as she lay in bed, afterwards attempting to kiU himself by the same means.

The victim died instantly, and the | murderer now lies in a precarious ' condition in the German hospital, <a police otlicer being near at hand to nrrest him in Dhe event of his recovery. The scenu of to tragedy is a mean street oil King&land Xload. No. 10 Ridley-street is a private house that has been converted into a shop and is occupied by Mr H. Collins, a general dealer.. 9 In the same hoUse lived Mrs Collins, her daughter Florence, a pretty, tall, dark igirl of twenty-one, and three young men lodgers. —Help Comes too L»ate.—

At half-past two in the morning the house was aroused fey screams ol "Mother" and "Murder." Mr Collins and the young mm rushed .to the room occupied 'by Florence Collins on the first,floor to find the door barred t 0 them. They knocked on it and called for it to be opened, but there was no response. One of the young men then threw his whole weight against it, and it gave way. While they had been attempting to gain an entry the poor girl had been foully murdered, anid Thirkettle (her former lover) had attempted his own life. Lying on the hesd dm her sleeping attire was the girl; blood Was flowing from the igapdmgi wound at her throat, and Thirkettle lay upon the floor in a pool of blooid with a at lids slide. The murderer is twenty-six years of age. He haa twice deserted from the army, on the second occasion because he could not <b«ar to ibe away from the girl he haa now so cruelly murdered. For many years he had

known iter, and his to her way a passionate one.. It appears that his somewhat wayward disposition bad 'given offence to Miss Coiluns' relatives, and they had done their utmost to sever the attachment existtng between tilie couple. —lncompatible ffastee.— 1 About three or four weeks ago j Miss Collins wrote to the young (mian and told him they appeared to be unsuited to each other, and that as their tastes' were incompatible it would be better if the match were terminated. Thirkettle immediately informed her that such a state of affairs could not come to pass', and that they must live together for life. He gave up his employment as a shoe-smith, and had refused to sleep in a bed. At nights he has walked the streets, and has frequently threatened to commit suicide., Ijast Tuesday he saw his sweetheart, .who endeavoured to persuade him to go to

I Canada, and he agreed to do so. But still he lingered, and shortly after midnight om Sunday he left his sister's house at Dalaton to inaJse one of his nocturnal rambles. By some means he £ot into the backyard of No. 10 llidley-stieet, where ha left his hat. He then broke tlie glass in the outside door, forced

Ihe door open and entered. In the hall ho took oft his b*)o.ta and coat, and walked up to the girl's room, locking the door behiml h:m, anil thus preventing the help which young woman's terrified screams attracted arriving in time.