TRAGEDY AND SEQUEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1917, Page 2

TRAGEDY AND SEQUEL.

MURDERER DIES FOR COUNTRY.

In the boom days of Coolgardie, there wore two. well-known figures on the field—a splendid, big-hearted woman, a pioneer nurse, whose name was known and honored in every mining camp, and a popular and shrewd investor named Gregory. It was in the nature of things that the two shouldxiome together. Gregory fell ill, and was helped through a dangerous sickness by the nurse. They fell in love and wore married. With the good wishes of the whole population, they entered into business, and conducted the United Arms Hotel in Coolgardie, where they prospered. After a time, Mrs. Gregory came to Sydney on a holiday, and put up at what was then a well-known hotel, although it is now closed. She was well supplied with money, and the large quantity of jewellery she possessed afforded further evidence of wealth. The boots in the hotel was a queer, ill-balanced youth named Quinlan, who had warped ideas about robbery. One night he went to Mrs. Gregory's room after her money and jewellery. He was intercepted by the lady and he attacked her with a knife, and not only killed her, but literally hacked her body to pieces. The room bore evidences of a terrible struggle, but it was believed that the poor woman was partly incapacitated with the first Wow.

The shocking details caused a groat sensation. Gregory, when the news cam* through wished to leave Coolgardie immediately and deal out justice with his own hands, but the demented man was persuaded against it. When it was learned that Quinlan was only 16 years of age, it was felt that the lad could scarcely have been normal. There was little surprise when the punishment was imprisonment for life.

That was nearly twelve years ago. Ten years of the sentence were served by Quinlan. The prison reports showed invariable good conduct, and he was placed in the exemplary class. There was every indication that the hoy had sincerely repented his horrible, crime. Mr. T). 11. Hall, the New South Wales Attorney-General, took nn interest in the easfi, and finally he decided on a gambling chance. He said he would give him his liberty, on condition that he would show he was really repentant by enlisting and offering bis life on the altar of his country. The young man agreed, and be was quietly released, enrolled, trained and sent away. He reached the front, met the foe as a good soldier should, was wounded and sent to hospital. He was offered clerical work at the base, it being thought he was not fit for further service. But he refused, and insisted on returning to the front. A few days ago the Attorney-General received word that Quinlan was killed in. action, his face to the foe.