DRAMATIC TRIAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 3241, 11 December 1930, Page 5

DRAMATIC TRIAL

“I AM PERFECTLY INNOCENT." Sydney, December 4. Richard Buckley, whose dramatic trial ended in Melbourne last week with his sentence to death for the murder of Mr. T. R. V. Berriman, bank manager, who was shot dead at Glenferrei seven years ago, is one of the worst criminals Australia has known. Hardened though he may be, Buckley’s face blanched when he heard the verdict, and when asked whether he had anything to say, he replied: “The circumstances were against me. I am perfectly innocent of this crime.” He swayed when sentence was passed upon him, signifying the finish of a most dramatic trial.

Already one man—Angus Murray —an associate of Buckley, had been hanged for the crime for which Buckley himself was convicted. The evidence was that Murray did not fire the fatal shot, but that Buckley did, and i-emarkable demonstrations followed the conviction of Murray. Crowds knelt outside the gaol on the morning he was hanged. The crime had been almost forgotten when Buckley was taken from the hiding place that had given him shelter for seven years. At least one other man associated with Buckley in crime paid the extreme penalty. This was John Jackson, who was convicted for the murder of Constable McGrath at the Melbourne Trades Hall in 1915. Buckley, who received six years for his share in the Trades Hall crime, and Jackson entered the hall for the purpose of robbing an office. They conducted a running revolver fight with the police in the dark. Both Jackson and Buckley were wounded and a constable was shot dead. It has been stated that after the constable was shot, and Buckley and Jackson were trapped in the building, they tossed a coin as to which of them would take the blame for the shooting of the policeman. Jackson lost and duly paid the penalty. This incident has only just been revealed by a man who knew Buckley well in and out of gaol. Who fired the fatal shot, it te'said, was never definitely established.

Buckley’s sentence has since been commuted to imprisonment for life. -