EYE FOR AN EYE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1926, Page 28

EYE FOR AN EYE.

LAW IN THE -l-'RICAN WILD. A. remarkable letter written by a Birmingham tram inspector now charged with attempted murder of his chief was read before the Birmingham stipendiary magistrate. **: "Mr. Pugh, for the prosecution, said that the accused man, John Henry Cuttler, had apparently harboured 111 feeling "for nearly two years against the traffic superintendent, Mr. Leonard Johnson, though Mr. Johnson was un.iware of this. The letter, written to Mrs. Cuttler (said counsel), suggested that the man meant to kill Johnson and then himself. It read:—

"When at the Council House this morning, Johnson refused to do any business with mc and threatened what he was going to do for mc, he little thought that he brought to life again what I have been trying for years to kill—that eye-for-an-"sye law that I had grafted into my being when amongst the natives in Africa. I have never been able to shake it off. To-day I feel in the midst of native life again. If Johnson should carry out his throwt, he, will go'west with mc. Xow I must say good-bye, and may God bless my little boy and yourself. Before the shoo/in*., Cuttler had be.n reprimanded and tuld lhat someone else would take over his duty until Mr. j..hn- i son had seen the. general manager. A shot followed, Johnson being wounded in the l»_. Cuttler was sent for trial.