THE CASE OF MRS. LOCHER.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 1170, 9 December 1896, Page 2

THE CASE OF MRS. LOCHER.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib— ln your issue of Tuesday I see that a petition containing 4428 signatures has been presented to the Premier, praying for the release of Mrs. Locher, who is now in gaol for attempting to take my life by. shooting me in February last. (I have not seen the petition, for the persons interested in getting the signatures have carefully avoided me, though they have not forgotten to tell people how shamefully I wronged the Lochers.) But it would be interesting to know how many householders' names are tobe found attached to it. Ido know that it has been taken into publichouses and workrooms, and young girls asked to sign; it has also been taken to dancing-halls, and young lads and lasses have been iuduced to place their names upon it. It would be a surprise to me to learn that 20 per cent, of the names in that petition were the signatures of thoughtful citizens of Wellington, neither do I believe that the citizens of Wellington have become so demoralised as to ask for the release of a would-be murderess, who threatens to take my life if opportunity should be given to her, proving that she is a most dangerous woman, and totally unfit to be at large. The jury said she was insane : if that is so, then she ought to be confined in an asylum ; for a lunatic with a weakness for shooting with ball cartridge is certainly not a desirable person to be at large on the streets of Wellington. Five medical men gave evidence on their oath at the trial that Mrs. Locher was not insane.. If their evidence is true, then Mrs. Locher attempted to commit a cold - blooded murder, and the persons signing the petition are by their action asking the Government to legalise murder, and that would-be murderers should go unpunished. Knowing the demand there is upon your space at this time I shall not attempt to make any defence of my action that led up to the shooting ; I leave my 20 years of business life in this city to tell its own tale, and challenge every person with whom I have Tiad business transactions during that period of time to charge me with one dishonourable act ; and I feel sure that were I to get up a counter-petition, there is not a business house in the city but would gladly sign it. Thanking you in anticipation, I am, &0., Geobge Norbuß*. Finlay-terrace, 2nd December, 1896.