MILLIONAIRE’S DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 June 1925, Page 5

MILLIONAIRE’S DEATH

MUROER CHARGE FAILS.

A POPULAR VERDICT (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association.) NEW YORK, June 27. William Shepherd has been acquitted at Chicago on the charge of murdering young William McClintock, the foster son of the late William McClintock,. the millionaire; ■ The second charge against Shepherd of murdering Mrs McClintock, mother of the youth William McClintock, was withdrawn, and Shepherd has now been set free.' , The facts of the case were that mercury in sufficient guantities to kill two was found in the body of 'McClintock’s mother, Mrs Emma McClintock, who died in 1909. The Coroner declared last April that he was positive she was murdered, because, the eyidence was of such a nature that theories of suicide or accidental poisoning were unacceptable. Judge Olsen, who initiated the inquiry claimed that ‘Shepherd murdered the woman as a first step in his plot to gain control of the million dollars’ McClihtock estate, then killed Doctor Olsen, the Judge’s brother, when the latter threatened to baulk his plans, and finally he poisoned McClintock, when the boy’s impending marriage threatened to deprive accused of the money. Mercury' was also found in Doctor Olsen’s body after three years in the grave. The physician who attended the woman declared that he never prescribed mercury. ’ All the evidence during the trial, which lasted six weeks, was only circumstantial, and the prosecution admitted 1 that the testimony of tlie chief witness, Faiman was unreliable. During the jurv’s deliberations, lasting five and a-half hours, only one juror favoured the minimum murder punishment. The others advocated an acquittal. Nine of the cousins of McClintock will contest the bestowal of the mfllion dollars estate on Shepherd, they alleging that he used undue influence in the preparation of the will, which was drawn up by Shepherd. , At the trial, Mis:; Isabella rope, Win. McClintock’s fiancee, testified that Shepherd had delayed the marriage .ceremony for fear, of losing the settlement. She admitted that McClintock’s cons ns had agreed to split the benefit, if the will were broken. When the verdict was announced, tht Court becatne a bedlam of congratulations to Shepherd, and flashlights > boomed over a gesticulating shouting crowd.