MURDER CHARGE

Feilding Star, Volume 9, Issue 2796, 13 August 1932, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE

Against Captain Lancaster EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE GIVEN RY SPECIALISTS SKILL AND BULLET USED FOR DEMONSTRATIONS NEW YORK CRIMIN'.YLOG IST EMPHATIC FOR SUICIDE HOW DEATH TOOK PLACE By Telegraph—Press Aftsn—Copyright (Aust. and N.Z. -Cable) (Received Aug. 13, lCs n.m.) Mam j, .Vii gu s i:- 12'. The bullet which piercjetl the skull of Hadon Clarke was broinght into court to-day .along with phr,tograpliic slides showdug parte of his head, by Dr. M. TV. Tall man. ,a. defence witness and one of the commission. of four speciali-is who confducted the autopsy. THE BFLLET HOEES Two- bullet holes, marking 'the entrance and exit of the bullet, were pointed out by Dr. Tollman as the .jurors leaned forward with oxvarying from acute interest- to hoirr'o-r. ACCI'SI'.D IXTER ESTED Cnpt uiu Lancaster was soon to poor intontlv at tho skull. REMARKABLE WITNESS losing tlio skull and tho fatal pistol to illustfate hi s tetimonv, Arthur Hamilton, a -erini itnolngist of Auburn, Now York State, told I>ho jury be was absolutely convinced that Clarke oommitt.il suicide. There was not a scintilla ol evidence lioro to gboiv Unit Clarke wa.s murdered, but there v,n s every indication of suicide. A niiscroscapic. examination of tbo pistol showed blood tissue o’t the front sight, indicating that it wa s pressed firmly against Clarke’s head tvhou the shot ivac fired. FROM HAND TO HAND Taking the skull in Ills* hands, the :expert- stepped down before the jury, eventually passing the skull to each member. “The skull shows live radial fraetureg, not made by a. bullet, but by the exploding gases tha t followed the bullet.” THE REASON WHY Ho addeil that the bialloeniug of flesh around the wound and the discoloration of the skullbott-eg. slio-ived edueUUively that tiie pistol was held firmly again sit the head when the bullet was fired. “I'LL SHOW YOU!" He .held the pistol against bis own head and snapped the trigger to- demonstrate the point, showing; .the position in which the pistol w»s hold when the buliet entered Clarke’s head.