LANCASTER CASE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 204, 12 August 1932, Page 7

LANCASTER CASE

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CLARKE SAID TO BE DRUG ADDICT. DISCUSSIONS REGARDING SUICIDE. (Received 12, 10.45 a.m.) Miami, Aug. 11. Testimony that Clarke was a narcotic addict, that he frequently discussed suicide and that he had suffered in New Orleans from an illness with which he was afflicted at the time of his death, was given to-day by Dick Lavender, Clarke’s former companion, at the trial of Captain Lancaster. J. P. Moe, deputy United States Marshall, testified that M. G. Tancrel, a State witness, had threatened to kill Lancaster if they were placed in the same cell. The conversation took place, Moe said, while Tancrel was in Federal custody on a charge of impersonating a nava] officer Tancrel and Lancaster were associates in an unsuccessful aviation venture m the west.

“I’ll do everything I can to see Lancaster burn,” Moe quoted Tancrel as saying (Tancrel had testified that several days before Clarke’s death Lancaster had threatened to get rid of Clarke. Lancaster denied this in his testimony.) The examination of Lancaster to-daj was brief. Mr Hawthorne questioned him closely regarding his financial affairs. Lancaster some time ago signed an affidavit that he was a pauper In to-day’s testimony he said that he had given Mrs Miller his share of the 300 dollars they had received for writing two statements for a news service. Lancaster was excused after 12| hours on the stand. Richard Richardson, a Miami writer, said he had twice heard Clarke discuss suicide, once about a year ago. Haden then said that the best method of suicide was by shooting. The second time was at Mrs Miller’s home three weeks before his death. He repeated then that shooting was the best method. “Wo were talking about suicide attempts that had faifed,” said Richardson, “and Haden said that if he ever committed suicide he was going to do it the right way and scientifically..” “Did he?” Mr Hawthorne asked. “That’s it,” was the reply. Clarke told Richardson that he had used a certain narcotic during March and said that he had found a place where he could buy the narcotic.