A STRANGE MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 17 August 1907, Page 4

A STRANGE MURDER.

PATHETIC SCENE AT THE INQUEST An old man of 73 years of age, Joseph W ilsun. a pathetic iigurc in the evening ju. .us day», finds himself charged witii v mm murder as me rcsun oj a singular occurrence at Wov Woy, a wellknown holiday resort, a few miles lrum Sydney. Apparently without any cause, c.v.'cpi «.hat liie poor ieilow was suii'ering from delusions, he walked into one ol the rooms 01 his house, raised his gun, and shot dead a boarder named Walter ilenry Fox, a visitor from Dulwicli iiill, Sydney. Fox was sitting ou the bed at the time, chatting with his boy, and when Wii&on appeared at the door aiming his gun he did not see him. The boy did, and in his alarm called out to his father, who looked up, and said laughingly to Wilson, "lou are not going to shoot?" Wiison said he was, ana Fox, apparently still regarding the malLcr as a joke, said jestingly, "Go on. then, shoot away." Wiison did so 3 and Fox fell dead.

Wilson had been brooding for some time over some grievance, fancied or real, aiul appears to luve been out of liia mind. Alter the murder he made 110 attempt to get awav, but sat staring at the lire, and admitted the crime when the police arrived. lie is a mail of very quick and violent temper, liable to go «to any extreme when suddenly lingered, and it is said he is also a man who could not be easily turned from any idea once he had got ot into his head. He and Fox spert Friday, the day of the murder, in tin town of Gosford, where they had sev.ral drinks together, and when tlicy returnde to Blackwall, where Wilson lived, they walked up liie wharf arm in arm, apparently the best of friends.

Wilson and his wife were very much attached, and it was a very affecting scene after the inquest, when, having given her evidence, and tile finding of "wilful murder" hud been returned, the wife gave the poor old fellow a cup of tea. Later, when the police were about to take him away to gaol, she threw her arms around him and kissed liini good-bye, and tears ran down the mail's cheeks as he turned away. He linti only one request in Darlinglmrst gaol—that was, that his wife should come to see him.