Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Friday 19 December 1902, page 3


A LONDON TRAGEDY,; ,

LONDON, Dec. 18.

The trial of Emma, otherwise Kitty, Byron, for the murder of Arthur Regi nald Baker at the Post-office Court, Lombard-street, City, on November 10, was concluded yestefday.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with the strongest recommenda tion to mercy.' Sentence of death ,,was' passed. [While thousands of persons were happily parading the City streets in the dinner-hour yesterday (says the 'Mail' of November 11) a mm was stabbed to death by a young woman within, a stone's throw of the Man-sion House.. The name of the man is believed to be Arthur Reginald Baker. He was a Stock Exchange clerk, and about 35 years of age. The young woman who is alleged to have killed him told the police that her name was Kitty Byron, and she gave the address of friends at Leytonstone. Her age is 23. It was in the post-office passage between! Lombard-street and King William street. | and just, outside the Lombard-street post- , office doors, that this startling crime was committed, in the sight of several people. Although the City generally was making merry, over the Lord Mayor's procession there was the usual press of business at 'this ever-busy office, and scores of men and boys were passing the spot every few moments. It was just after -half-past 2 o'clock n-hen a sudden cry of 'Murder!' caused people at the post-office counters to rush, to the doors, and a crowd to gather in an instant in the narrow court.

A quarter of an hour, earlier a young woman of attractive appearance — slight of figure, with dark eyebrows, black hair, and I handsome features — wen), into the post-office ' and sent an express- letter to the Stock Ex- j change. It is said that she had done st-! frequently, and then awaited the arrival of , the person to whom the letter was a'ddreased ' — the maa sho,ia alleged to have killed ye3-'

tcrday. , She waited a few minutes, and then Mr. Baker joined her. . He was stylishly 'dressed in frock coat and silk hat. She was taste fully attired iu black, aud carried a muff. They entered into conversation for some minutes. It became obvious that they were quarrelling, and when- the loud and angry tone of their conversation attracted atten tion they loft the post-office and entered the passage. There is a recess of several feet on the opposite side of the passage, and the couple stood talking there for a moment.

KNIFE HIDDEN IN A MUFF. Then, while people were within a few yards, the young woman, it is alleged, 'drew from her muff a knife with a blade several inches Ions;, and quickly, witii much force, struck her companion* with it in tho face. The blade penetrated near the left temple, causing a terriblo wound. As the man: staggered and turned, it is said that she strutk at him again and plunged tho knife in near his heart and between his shoulders. He fell literally in his blood. It was a spectacle tliat made the hearts of onlookers stand still. In a moment several men sprang at the girl, and handed her into the cus tody of a constable named Hunt.- She seemed appalled at what she had done, and quietly gave up the knife, the blade of which wasS kopt open by a spring. She was taken to Cloak-lane police station, and there charged with murder.]