The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1893-09-30 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TRAGEDY IN LONDON.  TYRES PERSONS SHOT.  A terrible tragedy has occurred in Regentsquare, King's Cross, involving the loss of three lives. The persons cionserned are :—Leo Percy, electrician, Swinton - street, Gray's- inn - road; Samuel 11.rtiett Garcia, stockbroker, 3, Vernon Chambers, Bloomsbury; and Daisy Montague, 18, Regent-square, a chorus singer at the Empire Theatre. It appears that Percy, who, like Garcia, was a single man, aged 30, had been on terms of intimate friendship with Daisy Montague for nearly five years past. They were regularly seen together, and it is asserted that a formal engagement existed between them.: Recently, however, the relations between them became strained, and for thb.past few nights Garcia had been accompaoiing Miss Montague and a friend with whom she lived—s Mrs. Herbert, also engaged at the Empire ' home from the theatre. This constant attention on hie]part had inflamed the discarded lover's passions, and no doubt precipitated the tragedy. On the fatal night Garcia, as usual, met Miss Montague and her companion outside the Empire, and walked home with them to Regent-square, where, at the corner of Compton-street, Mrs. Nerbert left them. Percy, who had been following them unperceived, waited until they were in a dark corner, when he drew a revolver, fired rapidly at his two victims, and when he found that the shots had taken fatal effeet, turned the weapon upon himself and blew his brains out. The three were conveyed to a hospital, but Daisy Montague and Garcia ex ,ired on the way thither, and Percy died about 2 o'clock—an hour after his admission. On examination, it was found that Daisy Montague, had received a wound in the lower part of the back, from which she bled to death internally. A man who was in the vicinity at the time the shooting took place has made a statement to the following effect: I left the "Baker's Arms," Euston-street, about twenty minutes past twelve with my wife, and made my way to Comptonstreet, where I arrived about ten minutes after the public-houses were closed. Just as I reached the corner of Regent-square I heard a shot and then saw the flash of a second shot in the square. I called to a young man who stood at the corner to come with me. He, however, ran away, blowing a whistle. I ran towards where I saw the flash, and heard the yousg woman shout "Murder ! Police !" One man was then lying with his feet in the gutter, and his body on the pavement. I heard another man who was standing by the steps say, "I'll give you Murder ! Police!' and another shot was fired. The young woman then reeled round and fell with her heal towards the lamp, which was situated east of where they stood. Tne man standing by the steps then put the revolver to his head and fired, falling to the ground with his arm extended. If I had had any one else to help me I could have prevented the last shot taking effect. From what I saw and heard, I believe the murderer did not intend to kill the young woman, but did so as a result of her calling out, and tlem realising he bad taken the life of the one he loved, shot himself. I assisted the constable to lift the young woman from the ground and put her in a cab. As we did so she was able to stand upright on the step of the cab, but she died soon after.