SOCIETY DRAMA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 138, 13 June 1932, Page 8

SOCIETY DRAMA.

TRAGEDY IN A FLAT. Actress on Trial for Murder In London. « KNIGHT'S DAUGHTER. (United V.A.— Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON; June 12. Crowds of fashionably dressed women queued up outside the Westminster Police Court to-day when Mrs. Elvira Dolores Barney, an actress and daughter of Sir John Mullens, .a retired stockbroker, was charged with the murder, of Michael Stephen, son of a bank manager, who was found fatally shot in the chest in Mrs. Barney's luxurious Hat in Kensington. Prosecuting counsel related how neighbours in the early morning heard Mrs. Barney scream: "Get out of my house. I hate you. I'll shoot you."

Then they hoard shots and cries of anguish. Mrs. Barney was heard exclaiming: "I love you so, chicken. Come back, I'll do anything you ask me."

A doctor found Mrs. Barney kneeling lieside the body and' kissing it, saying: "I love you." " She was in evident distress.

Mrs. Barney's statement to the police was to the effect that she quarrelled with Stephen about a woman. He had attempted to take the revolver from her, but the weapon went off during the struggle, i

Counsel stated that Sir Bernard Spilsbury, Home Office pathologist, would give evidence that it was not impossible but extremely improbable for the wound to have been caused accidentally or for deceased to have shot himself. A gun expert's evidence would support the theory that it was impossible to pull the trigger and inflict a wound of this character in such a position.

Evidence is also to be tendered on a second charge of shooting at Stephen with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Accused was remanded until June 18.

Mrs. Barney, whose husband is in the United States, was arrested and charged with the crime on June 4, when she was granted a .week's remand. At the bearing then a brother stated that deceased's debts were frequently paid by his father. Stephen had, on a former occasion, denied living with Mrs. Barney. The tragedy, it was stated, is another result of the notorious night life of drinking and dancing dens frequented by well-to-do people on the fringe of society.