The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-31
4 Sensational Story.
AN ALLEGED ATTEMPT OF A YOUNG ENG
LIsnMAN TO KILL HIMSELF AND WIFE.

I1SllMAN TO KILL HIMSELF AND WIFE.
The New York papers Of last week con-
tain long accounts of an interrupted trag-
edy in which the chief actor was young
Englishman who visited Staunton short
time ago, and whose brother, the Rev.
Geo w. Murray. now Of Lyanwood, Rock
ingham county, was a former highly es-
teemed resident of this city. The young
man in question is named Gerald Francis
Norman Murray, a medical student and
member of well known and highly con
nected English family. His father is an
officer Of the high Court of Chancery and
yarioSs. members of the family have occu-
pied prominent Official positions in Great
Britain.
1t is said that while at Filing, England,
a short time ago, Murray met and fell in
love Nijh Miss Josie Marion Brown, aged
II, said to be al heiFtss to 10000 in her
own right About ten days ago the couple
reached New York, and shortly thereafter
Murray came 10 Virginia to resume his
me- zeal studies In the University Of Viz
ginia. where lie had been the previous scs-
sion, leaving lis wife t the Richmond
Hotel, New York During his absence
She renewed all acquaintance formed on
The steamer VITA Il young man, and finally
consented TO leave her husband. On
the lalter's return to New York he met
the two, and had them arrested on charge
Of having stolen his medical Instruments.
The police sergeant discharged them.
Then he consulted a lawyer, who waited
on the wife with acoDfession of infde]ity,
which she was asked TO sign. She refused
and also consulted a lawyer, who told her
not to sign Any paper. 1t was finally
agreed that hey should meet Tuesday
Afternoon ut hcr lawyer : office to Try ard
make some agreement. About 10 Z. NJ.
Monday. Murray called at tie house Of
Mrs. McQuHAr, where his Wife had taken |
rooms said That he wanted to see his wife, |
and WAS admitted. The meeting was har-
manio1,s Mis- A!cQuadr said she wanted
To 90 out to make some purchases, and |
MurGay said he would 90 with her. The |
tW0 Wrlit ont Of the room together. About |
Ten minutes after, while Mrs. McQuade |
was in store opposite TO her house she |
hear Mrs. Murray scream, and rushing
over 70 her house, found Murray standing |
over his girlwile and trying to force her |
to drink from a bottle which he held. |
When the landlady appeared he drank the |
liqul1 himself lie claims that it was a
mixture Of Whiskey and chlorodyhe, but |
The diagnosis Of the hospital physician was
that Murray was stupetiel 10y liquor, and |
not by any poison,
On Thursday the parties we're Uefore the
police justice. Both are reported as I'M
usually good looking. He is tall and
manly. with rcd cheeks and slight brown
mcustache: while the two weeks bride
has light brown hair, large open eyes and
COSY little figure She is not quite IS.
They were both stylishly dressed.
At the trial, Mrs. Murray testified that
she had changed her residence so as to
escape her husband. an Tuesday, he
learned her address,, and about $3.50 came
to the house, forced his way into her room
and pleaded with her to return to England
with him--if not as his wife then as his
sister. She refused, and be left the room,
but returned shortly afterward with three
bottles labelled "opium, chlorine, y and
'wliskey. lie mixed their contents in
a tumbler and wanted her to drink half,
while he took the rest. When lie presented
the pistol she screamed, and the landlady
came into the room. He handed the re-
yolyer to her.
Mrs. DIcQuade, the laudlady, then tes-
lifted That Murray said IS s., lg say leI-sssss
1--we my wife too much to harm her. :"
Mr.. Murray, laboring under evident ex-
element, told his story SO earnestly and
with SO much feeling that it was plain
lis troubles have come out Of his intense
love for The girl lie said that for two
nights before discovering her he had
neither slept nor eaten. II was half
mad. " the young husband continued, ''but
[ had 10 idea of shooting her. ! would a
thousand times rather die myself.
The trial was not ended. Murray was
bailed to appear when the case is again
called.
Mrs. Murrays mother, who lives in
England, was notified of her daughters
trouble and at once set sail for America