SISTER SHOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1936, Page 4 (Supplement)

SISTER SHOT.

ON WAY TO CHURCH. SOLDIER FOR TRIAL. FATEFUL FAMILY QUARREL. After hearing how a young man 011 his way to church saw his sweetheart shot dead, the Holbcacli, Lincolnshire, magistrates committed the dead woman's brother for trial. He is Private Henry Smith (18), of the Northamptonshire Regiment, who is charged with the murder of his sister, Dorothy Smith (24), and also with the attempted murder of his father, John Herbert Smith (55), a Holland County Council labourer, at Fleet Fen. The young woman had acted as housekeeper to her father. Smith, who is homo 011 leave from Northern Ireland, appeared in a crowded Court wearing a sports jacket and flannel trousers. Sir. E. CI. Robey, prosecuting, related that some time ago there was trouble in the Smith household, as the result of which Henry Smith left the house, never to return. A quarrel occurred, which had something to do with liim not paying enough for his keep, and his father boxed his oars because of a remark he made about his sister Dorothy. Stayed With Neighbours. On returning to the village afterwards Smith stayed with neighbours, Mr. and Mrs. H. Buff. On April 10 he came and told the Bull's he was on sick leave. On the 19th he borrowed a gun and three cartridges from a Mr. Clifton. When asked what lie was going to do, he replied, "Have some sport." He went out with the gun on the Sunday evening as his sister and her fiance, William Drakard. were cycling past on their way to chapel. Pointing the gun at his sister from a short distance away, he shot the girl dead before the horrified gaze of her sweetheart. The evidence, continued Mr. Robey, went to show that Smith then proceeded

to the house of his father and fired through the window, the father being seriously injured by pellets as he sat reading by the lire.

When detained Smith told the police, "1 wish to make 110 ftateinent. I am pleased she is dead." Later he said ho intended to throw himself into the water, adding. "That would be too yellow," apparently meaning it would be too cowardly.

Another sister of the accused, Mrs. Ivy Powell, of Stratford-on-Avon, stated she had asked her brother to go to his father's home and lie friendly with the family, but lie refused, though he was friendly with his small sisters, Mary and Eva. In one letter her brother wrote to her, "I shall take my revenge. I shall shoot them both." She did not take him seriously. In moving evidence William Drakard, the .dead woman's fiance, told how lie saw Smith approach with a gun under his arm. When about 15 yards away lie put the gun to his shoulder and pointed it at them. All that he, Drakard, remembered was his sweetheart shouting, "Oh!" and she fell from her machine. "What Are You Doing?" As he bent over her he called to Smith, "What are ymi doing?" Smith replied, "Shut up," and pointed the gun at him, and he afterwards shouted for help. Smith ran away in the direction of his father's house. Ada Mary Hilliam, of Fleet Fen, said she saw Smith running with the gun towards his father's house. As he did so the gun went off and his hat went into the air, Detective-Sergeant KnowJer mentioned that when Smith was being conveyed to Spalding lie talked of his Army career and said his mother had beer. f l-, ad about five years. He added that lately he had had nothing to do with his family, and lie remarked, "This is the finish of it." In depositions taken at the hospital the father stated he was sitting by the fireside readifig the "News of the World" when he heard s, shot and something came through the window and struck him verv hard. There was a shattering of glass and some of it flew over his face. Dr/ W- Burton said the father had wounds in the right arm, while he was peppered with shot down the right side. That kind of injury frequently proved fatal. Smith was committed to Lincolnshire Assizes and reserved liis defence.