The Northern News. — 1896-11-21 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

THE FATAL SHOOTING CASE AT LIVER PCOL.  An inquest was cpened in Liverpool on Friday afternoon into the circumstances attending the death of Edgar Swinton Holland, merchant, who died from a bullet wound inflicted by Elizabeth Kempshall, who is in custody charged with the offence. Mr. J. C. Alsop, solicitor, said the deceased was his client, and also a close personal friend. Witness heard of Miss Kempshall after a breach of promise case two years ago. Miempshall had carried on a system of anno.....xe by writing to the deceased. There were two interviews about eighteen months ago at Holland's office, when the aocused used very abusive language. Witness received a communication from Kempshall, in which foul language was used against the deceased and his children, and also cursing deceased's solicitor. When visited 4 twice afterwards by prisoner witness told her Mr. Holland was on the Continent. She said the deceased had promised to do something for her, and if he did not she would do something else. Witness was prisent when Holland was shot. Witness and deceased were sitting at the table when Kempshall entered and refused Holland's offer to sit down. She stood facing Holland, and deceased said, "You ilave no more claim on me. I am going to make provision for you, but it must be arranged by our solicitors under certain conditions. I will go to London at end of week and see my solicitors. You had better go to London at once to see your solicitors so that arrangements may be made." She replied: " I want you to pay me. You promised to marry me and leave me all your property and to compensate me for the wrong you have done me." She was very violent and very voluble. Holland became indignant and said she knew he had never promised to marry her, and added that he had never wrerged her, but treated her Willi kindness. "You haven't, you beast," she cried, and drawing a revolver from underneath her cloak, fired straight at deceased's breast four times. Witness immediately knocked Kempshall's arm down and seized her, and Holland walked round the table and assisted to secure her until the arrival of a clerk, who took the revolver away from the woman. Holland at first said he thought he was not wounded, hut afterwards be believed he was shot in the heart. Prisoner meanwhile laughed, amid said she would run away. Corroborative evidence having been given, the inquest was adjoilkned to Wednesday week. Catherine Kempshall, who is in cuetody for having fatally wounded with a revolver Mr. Edgar Holland, a Liverpool merchant, was brought before the Liverpool Stipendiary Magistrate on. Saturday and remanded on a charge of wilful murder. The courtream was crowded by people anxious to get a glimpse of the prisoner, who looked pale and haggard. Mr. Cripps, the-prosecuting solicitor, intimated that they would be unable to bring on the case for trial at the present Assizes.—The fueeral of Mr. Holland took plaoe on Saturday afternoon.  Mr. William Chalmers Beattie, lessee of the Clarence Hotel, Silver-st., Bury, died suddenly on Friday from heart affection in his forty-fifth year, Deceased was formerly manager for Messrs. George Munroe. wine merchants, Blackburn and Bolton. He married Mrs. Duval, leg,see of the Theatre Royal, Blackburn, and for several years was himself lessee. Afterwards he was landlord of the Wine Lodge, Wakefield.