CONFESSED MURDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 March 1931, Page 10

CONFESSED MURDER

POLICE THOUGHT IT A JOKE.

SYDNEY, March 13

The unusual spectacle ws witnessed at Forbes, New South Wales, during the week, of a man confessing to a murder, and police refusing; to believe him.

John Peckham, 52, walked into the Forbes police station late on Tuesday night and said to two constables who know him well: “I’ve shot Bob at my place. You’d better come and get him.” ■ For a considerable period the constables thought it was a practical joke, but gradually his sincerity forced itself upon them, and they reported the matter to their officer.

- When a party of police reached Peckham’s home they found that he had spoken the truth. Across his doorway was the body of Robert Hill, aged 40. In a statement Peckham said that they had been drinking at a local hotel during the day, and they returned to his home. In- the kitchen HiH pulled: Mrs Peckham on to his knee, whereupon he was ordered out of the house by Peckham. He refused to go, and Peckham left- the room. In the meantime, Mrs Peckham escaped from his embrace, and when Peckham returned a shot rang out and Hill staggered to the front door, falling dea-d across the threshold. When the police arrived, Mrs Peckham appeared to have been struck dumb by the tragedy. She could only sit and look vacantly at them, holding tight to her six children, who were clustered round her. Peckham was charged with murder next day. After the facts had been outlined to the Bench, Peckham said: ‘Tin satisfied. I done the thing.”