CHARGE OF MURDER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 65, 28 December 1935, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER.

DEATH PACT BY CONSTABLE. ALLEGED AIDER AND ABETTOR. United Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, December 27. An extraordinary story of a death pact between two police trainees was told to the coroner at the inquiry into the death by shooting of George Thomas Vickers, aged 24, whose body was found near Albert Park Lake, on December 24. Lachlan McLachlan, who with Vickers was discharged from the Victorian police force on December 21, allegedly made a statement which was read to-day. He declared that he and Vickers were dismissed after an incident with girls in a motor-car. A third man was with them when McLachlan and Vickers decided, in the event of dismissal, that the pair should commit suicide. McLachlan’s statement continued: “We bought a revolver and tossed a coin to decide who should have the first shot. Vickeis said: ‘lt’s hard to do, but there is nothing else for it.’ We both shook hands and lay down on the grass. Vickers shot himself in the temple. I heard him breathing and decided to go for an ambulance.” A letter found on Vickers indicated bis intention to commit suicide because of the disgrace of being expelled from the police force. The coroner committed McLachlan for trial on a charge of murder, finding that he had aided and abetted Vickers.