DEATH SENTENCE

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1791, 15 December 1936, Page 3

DEATH SENTENCE

JURY RECOMMENDS MERCY James Hickling, an Edgware (London) cinema commissionaire, found guilty at the Old Bailey of the murder of Barbara Jessie Mant, aged 19 years, was recommended to mercy by the jury on the ground that the crime was unpremeditated. He was sentenced to death. Hickling, hiar-j ried in January, parted from his wife in March, met Miss Mant a few days later, and fell in love with her. ' Mr L. Byrne, prosecuting, said Miss Mant had been keeping company with young Arthur Barfoot since August, 1933. She became a waitress at the cinema where Hickling was eommissionaire, and became friendly with him. Hickling asked the girl to choose between himself and Barfoot. She replied:. “It is only you I s love, but I have decided on Micky’’ (Barfoot). After the night cinema performance the three went into a recreation ground. Hickling asked for a quarter ( of an hour alone with the girl to say j good-bye. Barfoot agreed. When he went back | he saw a struggle between the two, j j and Hickling strike Miss Mant with j a knife. Hickling, in the witness box, said when Barbara told him that she had decided on “Micky” he had a lot of drink and bought the knife, ftatcad" ing to do away with himself in froit of the girl. Mr L. Carthew, K.C., defending Hickling, who had pleaded not guilty: Did you intend to murder Barbara Mant? Hickling broke down and sobbed : “No, sir. I loved her too much.”