Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-14
AN RxTRAoRDINARY sToRY-LOyE
AND MURDER,

London has had two horrible sensations to
occupy Its attention during the past month
one the Vidil case and by the last arrival We
have the conclusion Of another affair ss strange
and full Of passion as any that has been re-
corded In the anSals Of crime.
On the 18th Of July, Major Murray, until
recently an officer Of the Husssrs, and now q
Director in a wealthy Stock Company, was
accOsted In the public streets by q man who
was an entire stranger to him. The new conner
introduced himself under the name of Grey;
said he wsnted to loan money for a client to
the company Of which Murray was director;
offered ESQ, 900, and requested the Major to
walk into his (Grey's) office, il was up one pair
of stsffs, and In q back room, in . public and
respectable street, hut Murray bad never be-
fore been In the house. He followed, how
ever, into the Office and seated himself, when
some unimportsnt business conversation took
place, occupying not more than minute or
two. Roberts (the real name of the strangely
rose to get his card Of address, which the other
had asked for. The doors were closed. Muir
ray sat with his back TO Roberts, who pre-
tended to be looking for card. Presently
Murray felt q slight touch In the back of his
neck, there WAS a report Of a pistol, and he
dropped of his chair on the ground, perfectly
psralysed; in q moment Roberts came up and
seeing that bis victim still lived, fred q pistol
into Murrsy's right temple; this did not kill,
but he pretended to be dead, and when Rob-
erts walked away. eeized pair Of topgs lying
near, sprsng to his feet, and struck at the
wretch. he raised bis arm, and terrible
struggle ensued Roberts fell under, and
Murray hit him several times In the face and
on the head with the tongs, getting his own
knees on Roberts chest. Then Roberts got
away the tongs, and Murray seized q black
bottle, but IL was smashed to pieces in one
blow. The two wounded men, both streaming
with blood, contriyed both to get to their feet,
snd fkars afr Ia tn.aE n1a 6ne " NJ
ray got possession of the tongs, by a succession
of heavy blows thought that he had killed his
adversary, knowing that his own life was at
stake. He then found the door locked and
clsmbered out Of the window, to policeman,
ignorant all the time whether he should not
Help was got, Murray taken to an hospital,
and Roberts discovered.
For nearly fortnight the mystery remained
6nravelled. Roberts did not die for q day or
two, but nothing could be learned from him;
Murray persisted In declaring that they never
had met before. Roberts family could furnish
no clue 10 the affair, but at last a woman who
had been supposed to be Murrsy's wife, she
gave information that explained it all. She is,
In reality, and has deem for years his mistress
although this fact has not been generally
known Roberts has been in love with her
an 1 the supposed Mrs Murry has paid frequent
visits to him in the very room where the
frightful fight occurred. Roberts was jealous,
and anxious to have the woman elope with him
TO the continent, proposing to desert his own
wife. Mrs. Murray $50 oalled) declares that
she feared rather than loved him, and refused
Roberts never threatened Murray In her
presence; bat learned from her his rivals
habits, watched him in public places, and got
information Of bis business. On the public
examination the woman was prodused; shs Is
young and very pretty, and cried bitterly when
revealing her double shame. 1t was believed,
however, that she was innocent of all compli-
cation in the attempt at murder; and the ver-
dict Of the Ooroner's jury was "justifable
homicide, and that Major Murray slew the de-
ceased to save his own life" There can be no
doubt that ROBERTS passion for the mistress Of
Murray provoked him to the endesvor to get
Murray out Of the way. So wonderfully can
even phlegmstio EngIishmen be stirred by the
emotions which women sometimes inspire