An extraordinary Story — love and murder.
London has had two horrible sensations to occupy its attention during the past month--one the Vidal case, and by the last arrival we have the conclusion of another affair as strange and full of passion as any that has been recorded in the annals of crime.On the 12th of July, Major Murray, until recently an officer of the Huzzars, and now a Director in a wealthy stock company, was accosted in the public streets by a man who was an entire stranger to him. The new comer introduced himself under the name of Grey; said he wanted to loan money for a client to the company of which Marray was a director; offered £60,000, and requested the Major to walk into his (Grey's) office; it was up one pair of stairs, and in a back room, in a public and respectable street; but Murray had never before been in the house. He followed, however, into the office and seated himself, when some unimportant business conversation took place, occupying not more than a minute or two. Roberts (the real name of the stranger) rose to get his card of address, which the other had asked for. The doors were closed Murray sat with his back to Roberts, who pretended to be looking for a card. Presently Murray felt a slight touch in the back of his neck, there was a report of a pistol, and he dropped off his chair on the ground, perfectly paralyzed; in a moment Roberts came up, and seeing that his victim still lived, fired a pistol into Murray's right temple; this did not kill, but he pretended to be dead, and when Roberts walked away, seized a pair of tongs lying near, sprang to his feet, and struck at the wretch. He raised his arm, and a 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 a black bottle, but it was smashed to pieces in one blow. The two wounded men, both streaming with blood, contrived both to get to their feet, and another struggle took place; finally, Marry got possession of the tongs, and 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 clambered out of the window to a policeman, ignorant all the time whether he should not meet confederates of his would-be murderers. Help was got, Murray taken to an hospital, and Roberts discovered.
For nearly a fortnight the mystery remained unravelled Roberts did not die for a 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 to the affair, but at last a woman who had been supposed to be Murray's wife — she gave information that explained it all She is, in reality, and has been for years, his mistress, although this fact has not been generally known, Roberts has been in love with her, and the supposed Mrs. Murray 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 (so called) declares that she feared rather than loved him, and refused. Roberts never threatened Murray in her presence; but learned from her his rival's habits, watched him in public places, and got information of his business. On the public examination the woman was produced; she is young and very pretty, and cried bitterly when revealing her double shame. It was believed, however, that she was innocent of all complication in the attempt at murder; and the verdict of the Coroner's jury was ‘"justifiable homicide, and that Major Murray slew the deceased to save his own life."’ There can be no doubt that Roberts' passion for the mistress of Murray provoked him to the endeavor to get Murray out of the way — so wonderfully can even phlegmatic English-men be stirred by the emotions which women some times inspire.
