TO PAY THE PENALTY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 January 1926, Page 7

TO PAY THE PENALTY.

A CHRJSTMAS-TTME MURDER. ONE OF THE ACCUSED SENTENCED TO DEATH. by cable-press association-copyright. Received Jan. 22, 12.20 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 20. Lincoln was sentenced to death in connetcion with the murder of Richards.—A. and N.Z. Assn. LONDON, Jan. 21. Surprise was caused at the trial of Stewart and Loncoln for the murder oi Richards by the reading of a letter from Lincom written in prison to his sweetheart. In this he said that he -and Stewart went to Richards’ house tor fche purpose of seeking money. incy found half a bottle of brandy, which thev consumed. Thev then left, taknirtwo bottles of beer. Later they returned. expecting to find Richards asleep, instead they encountered hmi bhots were fired on both, sides and Richards fell wounded. Lincoln said lie suppoitecl Richards’ head for a time, and then bolted He had nurtured no evil against Richards, since whose death the writei had “suffered hell.” - ■ The letter was intercepted by tin o-overnor of the prison. ' The judge held that there was no evidence of murder against Stewart, whom the jury acquitted.

:i fINCOLN ’ S ADM 1 SST.ON. Lincoln’s defence was a frank admission that lie fired the -shots. 1 can t say I fired at anything particularly, . simply fired in Richards s direction. 1 was terrified because Richards was filing. I rushed him, struck him. with a bottle, hut did not- know I had killed Lincoln said lie always carried a, pistol because his father did. Lheie iva*.-* a fascination in the possession ol isucii a thing. , Counsel for the defence urged that the verdict should he one of manslaughter, which the jury agreed to The judge, in sentencing Lincoln, said ■ “You have cut off bv wicked folly the life of a young, happy and prosperous man. thereby forfeiting your own life. You are also vo-ung; with every possibility of being happy and useful.” . . . ~ Stewart was thereupon placed m the dock and was charged with robbery and violence. • The Orown offered no idence • The judge commented that it would be a gross mis carriage of justice if he did not discharge Stewart, who was later arrested and charged with , simple Imrglarv.—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.