THE MURDER OF MR. J. F. GREATREX.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4170, 20 July 1892, Page 2

THE MURDER OF MR. J. F. GREATREX.

The San Francisco mail baa brought full particulars of tht murder of Mr James P. Greatrex, bead of tho firm of Greatrex and Son, wholesale saddlers, by hia sod, William Earnest, who was for several years a resident ot Wellington. Tho shocking affair took place at Leamington, England, on the afternoon of the Ist June, and naturally oreated intense excitement throughout the district, Mr Grcatrox, senr,, who was 74 years of age, went out for a walk with his Bister-in-law, a Uiss Ryder, and had not gone very far when hie Bon, who had just coma down from London, stepped up to him, and fired a revolver at his father, killing him almost instantly. A policeman was in the neighbourhood, and on tjubing up he saw the ton the aged parent, and holding a smoking revolver in his hand, The ruurderer* banded the weapon to the constable, and remarked that although he had not tho courage to sboot himself he could take a dose of prussio acid if it were given him, He was, ofjjjjso, arrested, and at the inquest a' verdict of Wilful Murder was returned.

The accused is 37 years of age, and was sent out to the colony in 1878 to (ravelin the interests of .the firm, While in Wellington he purchased Mr Jackson's business in Feathoreton, aud established a branch of the business here, and remained in charge until 1884, when be retnrned to F'Pgland. Durirjg the time he was here lie stayed at the Wellington and was a member of tho Star Boating Club. Hia habits durirjg hiar residence in Wellington were somei what peculiar, and it transpired at the inquest that his mother and one ol his brothers had been affected with insanity, \ '" " One p'f the witnesses at \M inguept stated that the murderer b'gd been fpf some time dissatisfied with the allow ance of XBsp a year made hip by his father. The son had often urged his father to Increase the amount, but his efforts in that direction bad not been succes'Bful,MrQreatrex,Ben,)cODsideriog that a snm of £B6O was quite sufficient for a single man to live upon. The witness also stated that the murdered gentleman had always treated his'son with great kindness, and had>~ several times spont large sums of money on bis behalf.

The late Mr Greatrex was a prominent resident of the Walsall district, and a number of charitable institutions have received large bequeßts.»-Poßt,