FATAL INFATUATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2710, 23 November 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

FATAL INFATUATION.

A TK.-VCSFO spqnul to an ill-assorted love match has occurred at. Jyorthemlen. Albert Edward Ball, jl youth, aged eighteen years, son of Mr George Bull, rofre.-liinciit-hniKo keeper, Northenden, and employed as clerk at f.hn Manchester Central .station, lias for some time entertained a strong affection for a widow named Warburton, carrying on bnsiness at Northenden as a market gardener, a woman thirty-eight years of age, and the mother of ten children, eight of whom are living. The contemplated marriage of the pair reached the ears of the youth's father on Monday, September Oth., and he at onco repaired to the widow's house, where he expressi d his strong determination to prevent the union. The woman resented the interference, and appears to have gone to Manchester to acquaint the youth of his father's determination. The two left Manchester together the same evening by the halfpast ten train for Sale, and on walking from there to Northenden, the young man, it is stated, called at the shop of a chemist, at Sale, where he purchased a quantity of oxalic acid. Ho stayed at Mrs Warburton's that night, and she says that she left him in his usual health at five o'clock on Tuesday morning to attend to her customary business at Shudehill Markot. Shortly after nine o'clock, Mrs Warburton's daughter went into the [ green house, and was horrified on seeing the body of the youth Ball lying on the floor stiff and cold. She raised an alarm, and it was quickly discovered that he was dead. The police were communicated with, and Police - Sergeaut Martin, stationed at Northenden, at onee proceeded to make an examination of the premises. Near to where deceased lay a paper bag, labelled " Oxalic acid— poison," and containing over a quarter of a pound of the deadly compound, was found at the end of the greenhouse. The officer discovered a large dinner-plate, upon which a quantity of acid had been emptied, and in it two half-peeled lemons soaking. The pulp of one, which was about half eaten, was quite black; the other was much less discoloured, and had not been so far eaten. Deceased's lips and features were also discoloured. Further search led to the discovery of letters and papers, which throw a tragic light on the sad occurrence. The following were found, among others :—Dear father, —A few last lines from your son. It is a very funny state that I write this. I have intended to keep my promise to her, as I have vowed I never would leave her, which I have stack to till the last. You appear to be so bitter against her, and you have no need, as lam well assured she would have made me happy. But you seemed so determined, as you told her this morning, that before I could marry her you would die for me, and that is the reason I have done this crime. She only gives me one, which is that you may he [this sentence is not completed]. You will find us both at my intended home, and so bury me with her if she is true till the last. Tell my mother I am sorry it has come to this, and hope better you have been, and tell her that I can say you had never no need of being so hard. May God bless my mother and you. Please give my love to all my brothers and sisters, and tell them that I never thought I was doing wrong. Write and tell Charley—[a brother of deceased's in America] —that I am dead. So may God bless you all, and I bid you all good-bye, as by the time you get this letter lam dead. From your dead son, Albert." Another communication reads: " Father, I would not do what I have been advised, not if I died bit by bit; I j should consider myself worse than a murderer," and on the same sheet he writes : —" Dear Willie, —A last few lines your dear friend, Albert, and from your dear mother." On the other side of this sheet of the paper is the following, without indication as to whom it is addressed : — "Kindly let me know how old a male person has to be before he can got married without the interference of his parents, in a case where it is almost compulsion to do the same, as I am not sure whether it would have to be eighteen or twenty-one years, and by so doing oblige A. E. BALL "