The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-11-19 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

DEVONSHIRE TRAGEDY.  LOVERS ICILLBD.  A young woman named Doidge, the daughter of Mr. Doidgo, of Coxtor Farm, an isolated place near Peter Tavy, on the skirts of Dartmoor, was murdered on Sunday night when returning from church between 9 and 10 o'clock. The victim was accompanied by a young man, and was shot dead. Her companion was also shot by the assailants, of whom there were two, and died on Monday. After being wounded, he hastened back to Peter Tavy, and gave information of the crime. The motive of the crime is supposed to be jealousy. William Williams, a young, mania in custody charged on suspicion of being the murderer. He has a wound on his head as if he bad attempted to commit suicide. A hat, which is believed to belong to him, together with a six-chambered revolver, four of which had been discharged, have been picked up near the scene of the tragedy. A bullet has been extracted from his head, and he is too ill at present to be brought before the magistrate. Another account says: For some time past Miss Doidge, a very attractive girl, had received letters from Williams but had rejected his advances. On Sunday evening all the parties in the tragedy attended service at Peter Tavy Church, where Emma Doidge sang in the choir, and Williams was a bell ringer. Rowe was the son of the organist and acted as organ blower. After the service Miss Doidge was escorted towards her home by Rowe. Her brother and sister were walking a little ahead, and when near the house they heard four pistol shots fired. Returning down the road to a distance of about 500 yards, they found their sister Emma and WilliAm Rowe lying on the ground with blood flowing from their heads. The girl was already dead. She had been shot in the forehead, and death had apparently been instantaneous. Rowe had been shot in the back of the head, and a portion of the brain protruded. He was conscious at the time, but did not speak. Both were removed to their homes, when Rowe lingered until Monday morning, when he expired. Meanwhile the police visited the scene of the tragedy, and found & revolver and two ordinary felt hats, one of which had two bullet holes through the front. Williams could not be found at Peter Tavy village, but a message came to the father of the missing man that his son wanted him in a cottage at Harford Bridge, and on the police proceeding there they found Williams with two bullet wounds in the head. His clothes were dripping with water. He was at once arrested and conveyed to Tavisteck Cottage Hospital, where it was found that he had attempted to shoot himself in the left temple, but the bullet had glanced across his forehead, and had passed out over the rim of his hat, the distance between the two bullet-holes in the felt being about three inches. Williams had then shot himself through the right eye, and the bullet was discovered to be embedded behind the ear on the same side. The unfortunate ntan had evidently afterwards attempted to drown himself in the River lavy, but had wavered from his original purpose. At the hospital the shattered eye was removed, and notwithstanding his great loss of blood, it is believed he will recover.  Mr. R. Robinson Rodd, the County Coroner on Tuesday afternoon opened the inquest. Formal evidence of identification only was taken, and the coroner gave orders for the burials, and adjourned the inquiries until Saturday morning. It is stated that Miss Doidge was never engaged to either of the men.