GRIM NIGHT DRAMA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 249, 20 October 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

GRIM NIGHT DRAMA.

SHOT WIFE AND DAUGHTER.

*18 IT A HORRIBLE DREAM?"

"la this true, or v it lU,* horrible dream? Have I shot my wife and daughter?" Lying on a conch with his eyes closed and hi* face twitching, a man murmured this to a doctor before he was arrested on a double murder charge.

It formed part of dramatic evidence at Dunster (Somerset) when Albert Spencer Banka (51), formerly manager of the Labour Exchange at Mmehcad, was aent for trial accused of killing hia wife Edith (S3) and their pretty twenty-year-old daughter, Marion.

Mr. EL, J. Parham (for the Director of Public Prosecutions) said that as far as was known, Banka and hia wife and daughter were always a happy and devoted family. ; l> ,

Three ahots were heard about 0 am. by someone who took no notice of them. Nothing further was heard from the house until 11.15 am., when Banks knocked at a window and attracted the attention of a butcher's boy, and said to him, "Get the police. I am in great trouble."

When a policeman arrived he found Banks downstairs in pyjamas and a drees ing-gown. He aaid to the policeman, "For Gods sake come in. A terrible thing ha* -happened. I have shot my wife and daughter." The policeman found that Mrs. Banks had been ahot in the back of the head, and the daughter in the head and chest. Both had apparently been shot while they wore asleep. A five-chambered revolver containing three spent cartridges and two live ones waa found.

Banka had a certificate for the revolver which hadbeen granted to him when Be took up his duties at the Labour Exchange at Minehead, as he said he would require it for self-protection in case of necessity because he would be handling large sums of money. Mr. Par-bain, said that it was difficult to see what ptttnble motive there could be. Banks, according to a statement alleged to have been .made by him, had only a very hazy idea of what happened that morning, and a witness who saw him in the 'afternoon would say he was very near the edge of a .mental breakdown.

Inspector Henry Fry said that Banks had suffered from delusional insanity while in the Army in India in 1913, and was in hospital for nineteen days.

Banks, when charged at Minehead police station on the day of his arrest (added the inspector), said, "I believe I did kill her, but I cannot remember properly. I woke dp this morning in the dining room on the sofa between eleven and twelve o'clock. It gave me a fright, because I believed I had gone to bed in the- ordinary way upstairs last night. I got up and opened the door leading from the dining room into the passage, expecting to find my wife and daughter about, and I saw a rug ,and some cushions on the.

floor and my revolver beside them. And it came across me in a flash that , I had ahot them in the night.

I tried to, go upstairs, but I could not make myself go up, so I knocked window to attract the attention-of a man who was working in the garden. He did not come, so I kept on knocking, and a butcher's boy came over, and 1 told him I was in dreadful trouble, and would he tell the police to come to the house at once.

"I then went back into the dining room and waited until there was a ring at the door and-1 went to the front door. There were some workmen there, but I told them I did not want them aa I-'had sent for the _ police. I then went back into the dining room, and. sat down again. Soon after a policeman came. I think it wis this one. I told him all about it."

Inspector Fry said that Ban& signed this statement, and he then charged- him with the murder of his daughter. Banks replied, "It is just the same as the other."

The inspector added that while Banks was in custody he appeared to be quite normal until he came to that part of his statement where he said, "And it came across roe in a flash that I had shot them in the night." He then broke down and wept bitterly.

Inspector Fry added that just before Banks was removed to Exeter Gaol he asked him if* he cared for him to com punicate with any legal man on* his be half. Banks again broke down, wept, and said: "No. He would only try to get me out of it, and I do not want thatI want to be hanged to get out of it." . Dr. Harry Bertram Walker, of Minehead, described how the accused man made the remark _given above. Banks wept silently the proceedings. • He pleaded not -guilty, and reserved his defence.