LOVE CRIME, AND SUICIDE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 298, 11 December 1908, Page 4

LOVE CRIME, AND SUICIDE

REVENUE 01' A MAX ".lILTED" OX WKDJJIXC-DAV. The love altairs of two people well known in Peterborough became public on 17th October in consequence of a tragedy. The man William liunniug. aged :18, was taken out of the Diver Xene (lend. The woman, a widow of ;).">, named Mrs. Hicks, lies in the local inlirmary wiWi her throat cut. Mrs. Hicks seventeen years ago wedded tl oiniu of that name near Peterborough, and after a few years of unhappy married life separated from him. Afterwards, whilst living at Man-lield, she met Punning, who w«„ the,, ;, builder's clerk. When Dunning returned to Peterborough, where ins family resided, the woman followed him, and they lived together on the understanding that when Hicks died they would be married, Dunning in the meantime obtaining work as an auxiliary postman. Quite "recently news reached the woman of her husband's death at Elton, a little village outside Peterborough, mid then liunniug, who was greatly attached to her. pressed her to fullil her .promise. She agreed, and a house was taken in Orawlhorneslrcet. and furnished on the hire system, and notice of the wedding was given to the local registrar. The ceremony was lixed for the. Kith October, but'when Dunning arrived he wailed in vain for the woman, and cvcntunllvihcr friends told him she had gone to AlaiKliclcl. It seemed plain to the disappointed bridegroom that he had been jilted, lie returned the furniture and gave lip the house. His sister took him ill. but his mind was so full of his trouble that he could not work. To a relative he said: "I think my brain is going; I .'do not know what lam doing." Lute'on Friday night (the llith) he was surprised to see the. hi in wailing for him in the street. Together tli,\ walked towards tlm river- and next Mrs. Hicks staggered into the Peterborough lifirmiiry with her throat cut. Dr. Little quickly allended to her injuries, and sent tor the police. She was slill conscious when a detective-sergeant arrived, and to him she said: '■(.)!). Mr. Smith! Von know Dunning? He did this, lie ■ has gone into the river. I walked down there with him, and he mid: 'Are you going to marry nieV' and when I'nn-| swered 'No,' he drew a razor across mv •throat.'' A search at the spot mentioned (a bathing-phicc about a hundred yards from Peterborough Pridgc) was made, and the. dead body of 'Punning found face downward in the mud. On ' the bank there were signs of a struggle. ' The police picked up a hat-pin. a woman's hal. and further mi a blood | slained razor. The man'- waleh had I slopped at S.:i(l. Mrs. Micks is |i|,elv to |