“FOR MY HONOUR."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10116, 25 October 1917, Page 3

“FOR MY HONOUR. "

-A HUSBAND’S' REVENGE. LIEUT. MALCOLM’S PATHETIC LETTER. WHY DE BORCH WAS .KILLED. Tim is (lie Doty nl Olio of t)in mo--i sonsu(iomil bappcmiig-rf of the yrfir. Ji. contains tin') upon which a jiiljiOi W urt pracIi(••ally uphold the'unwritten law ami acquitted n man who killed another to protect his, wife’s honour. LONDOX, An". 21. _ Brief cable messaged wilt ere this have given you an outline <*f the now famous Malcolm c,iM\ It i;, a most- extraordinary dory, and though the full detail: caiimit bo divulged before tin- hearing ol the criminal charge, sufficient of the story wa- told before the Coroner to make it one of the most remarkable of our lime. The victim v.us a itiTMetlutts foreigner, handsome and with soldierly bearing, who styled himself "Count, Anthony <fo Botch,” but whose real mime is,slated to be Anton Baiiniberg. ‘Such detail; as have already been allowed to.transpire hint at. a. strange drama ol Info iivul 'intrigue, of which Ids death v.c? the direct t'mtlt. riddled with bullets. The plain facts of the tragedy itself are. that, at, about eight o’clock on Tuesday morning, August 14. the “(Anml” was found dead in his bedroom at the boarding-house, his body riddled with,revolver shots, imme- • diatvlv ol tot a nude visitor had been admitted to. his bedroom. Later in the day a British officer mimed Douglas Malcolm, aged twenty-four, a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, stationed at the headquarters of the British' Expeditionary Force, in France, was charged at Marylebono Police Court with 1m murder. Mr Malcolm is a fine looking man in appearance. typical of the best class of Britiso officer The charge was preferred against, him after a statement he himself made- to the police. In the brief court proceedings which followed it wan elated all he staid in reply to me charge was, "Very yell; 1 (lid it. for my honour.” Tills first, indication of the nature of the tragedy wan elaborated by the Coroner at the inquest. “It is undoubtedly a tact,” he told the jury in his opening, "that this so-called count had intimate relations with Lieut. Malcolm’s, wife whilf Incut. Malcolm uas on servicewith the British army in France. It is believed that . it was these reinlions which lead to his death. Mrs Malcolm, who E » tall, graceful woman of considerable beauty, was present outside the court in a. cab when tin inquest was opened. A (FRIGHTFUL STRUGGLE. The manageress at the boarding-house described how, a. man in civilian-clothes called about 7,46, saying he w«* “an official,” and raked for the “Count,” following closely, “to save In i' coming down." be said, when eho went upstairs. to the “Count’s." room. Tlic door was locked, and when the "Count” called out tA know the caller’s name, the latter replied quickly, “Tell him 1 am In-

specter Quinn.” The door was unlocked, and the visitor then pushed his way in. closing' the door after hint. More light was thrown upon what- actually occurred by a young woman named Knight, wiio occupied the adjoining bedroom. She was aroused by a great commotion from the next: room, she ..aid, “as: though someone wire banging furniture,” and then heard the “Count” groan, as if lie, were in great pain. Then there was “a dreadful noise as though the whole bed had collapsed,” followed by the sound ot a druggie, idler which she heard four or five revolver shots in quick s.ueoe.-. ion. Within a minute she heard someone liavo and go downstairs. MALCOLM GIVES HIMSELF CP. After the shooting Malcolm went outside and gave himself up to a policeman. “Con-st-able.” he said, “I want you to go to No. 3 I’orclie.iter Place. I have shot- a. man. Later, while, waiting lo go before a Magistrate. Malcolm said: “Ah. well, it is all over now. I went to give him a good thrashing with tho ■ whip,. I gave him one before, but he is such a end. I have done ail I can to keep hint away from my wife and her from him. He i: a white slave 1 raflicker, and a spy. Scotland Yard knows all about him,’ and I have called there. You can imagine how- ] felt when 1 saw: the cad, who was trying to got- my vib' to go.away with him, and me in France helpless to defend her honour Can you wonder at what I did in the impulse of the moment, when I sa.w the cur before me who was; lining mv wife to dishonour S' THeViKK'S evidence. Mrs Dorothy Vera Malcolm said she lived in D flat at Cadogini-squaie, and first, met. deceased on April 1. She tva.- introduced to him tit a party at a friend .- house. 'The Coroner: Did he ask permission -to call on you '! —Yes. And he did so'/ —Yes'. An then you saw him frequently V—\ os. Te; told mo‘that he hiul no real title. De IVorcli was his- lather, lie was a Rii.-sian Role, lie said. , , , Tho Coroner inlovnioJ Mrs Mfilcolni thot she. was, not bound to answer anything that would tend to incriminate her husband. Mrs -Malcolm said she understood. The Coroner handed her a letter m her handwriting, which read as follows; Dorr Coin'll. —Mv husband has returned, and so 1 shall not bo in to-night. J will K:i; you know when 1 shall be able to see vou again, but I tear not for some time. Yours sincerely. 'H,O Coroner: Did you know your nutband was coming home on leave .' No. It-; wan about twelve o’clock midday, and 1 was upstair? in tho.count’s bedroom. Who was present'; —The count. 1 heard mv liu-iband call from halfway up the stairs:. He pushed the door wide open, and came in. There was a -frightful scene, a? my husband objected to the count. What did lie say 1 —lie diet not, «y, much, but. struck deceased with his lists, on ms forehead. , .. , .■ n Did deceased strike back v-N-o. ho el( down. There was a. sort ot .slight- r.cudle before. Deo used put bo bead down and bis hands up to ward oft-the blow. When be fell down he fainted. SCUFFLE IN BEDROOM. The Coroner; Had your husbandJwid anything to vou Indore this soulib-.—, o. Did you ever mention deoeaaocl to your husband in correspondence f-\c?, Aw oral Mentioned hint as »«. friend VYea as an ordinary Iriend. You made no disclosures to him ~Ao. Did be say why he assaulted dcwM-scd. N Witness added that she went into her bedroom. and her husband followed her. I implored him to divorce me . ; 'lhe Coroner: Did vou tell him there had been any.-intimate relations between you aiul the Count'/—Yes'. Did he believe you ■—»'<:s'. . Has your husband always been a loiin,, husband V—Ob, yes. . But ho would not _ divorce you m spile of wluit vou said'/—No. Did he Irv vehemently and fervently to ptr .-uade vou to give up deceased 7—V™. Witness said her husband wrote- the tollowing letter to deceased : julv 15, 1917. To the Count do Boren. -You'refuse to fight,'all right. 1 challenge- vou to a duel, pistols or swords. Ynii cm take the choice. Tell mo when ' vou want to meet me. A* soon as pos':b'e please. Seconds will bo a dimc-ulty io ‘me. but 1 will S'cf one. (signed) D.

Malcolm. I hm Coroner; Wh«i ho buys, "Refua; to tight.” he refer; to the scuffle?«•'Yes. Your luu’Uucl is 9 nijin of comidcrablo meaiu>?~Yos.. LETTER TO WOLE HE ART. Tim Coroner read another letter written bv .Mrs Malcolm to Je Borch: Wolfhcart.—l have just.a few moments U) write. 1 was so happy to receive your letter and to know that you arc well, and, of course, heaving from you comforts me a little. I) lias written you, and if the dreadful affair writer, off, T think I shall die. Wolf, write to me and seal your letters to Piper, (the maid), and give my love to Bunny, and tell her 1 have not a moment/as Ih never leaves me, or I would write, her. 1 am c,o sorry to have let her in for n horrible scene. . . .1 am half-dared—l cannot write all that is in my heart. My love to my. Wolf. (Signed) Sf]iioe. Squce. witness explained, was her pet name. She identified a letter written by her husband to deceased, which road ; Count Antony do Botch.—l have had no reply to my challenge, and in case you have not received I he note win leu on New .Milton station, i :#ne you by pew from chars, i again challenge yea, rnd leave the choice pf.weapons to you, You Fill

nee if is belter this'.' should happen in Franco. Theivb'iv 1 earnestly hope you will arrange! to get to Franco aa early ns possible. “THIS WRETCHED DUEL.” Malcolm’- Frciich address was enclosed. Another letter written by her to dc Borch rctul: Wolf.—D, ita-s goUC to the Whir Office to try and get an extension of leave, and CO 1 ;])ij alette.; riiid alilo to write to you. 1 a.rh thinking of \PU tvlwity?.- Let me know all your nows, flc 1 1 n x to you again about this, wretched duel. , lire von going to do about it? It is »IV7IuJ. lh'i?’'uhcortailltV» When are you coming up to town 7 I hope aboil, a* Ido not like you being alone v. ifb anyone.. Is T hoff'fll of me? i have had to promise not to see you t'li fI?C war is over. I'or tn.V mother's sake I Jo it. R C'lL 1 hope Jon are not .•idlVring as much as I atn, Oh, I do so hop.' you arc not. My hear' i-bri-ahing. so I cannot write sense or what 1 feel. Will ili;-. suffering never end? Be near me ill spirit, mid thank you for ail you said in your letter. 1 read it quickly whenever 1 get a chance, which is very seldom. I want you dreadfully.—Squtftb Another letter ran; “I am thinking of you, and do so hope you are bettor. Mr love, gquee.” Another letter was a- follows : Darling Wolf.—What has happened to you? I soul a message to the Carlton to say I could not be there tit 2.30. T am going straight on to Bunny. You come to there quickly. I have, had no lunch, nr; anyway. I hate missing you like this. "GO AWAY WITH DE BORCH ' Mrs Malcolm said that she, wrote that after her husband had returned, at the Junior Conservative Club, having failed to find deceased there. Sim wrote to her husband wii'M he was awu-v, .and was receiving letters from him. She did not want to buov him uu with false hop:/. and the tone ol her letter was absolute!) final. “1 mentioned that it was contenipMtet ,;, a t l ,-hould' go, with him on to Buy Mm linen t, and I think .1 spoke of the difficultv of passports. Mv mother said, in trout ot my husband, that it was no use talkim; to me, .Mr Malcolm visited Scotland \iml. end came Irack and said that he had found that deceased was a procurer, I and that I cpuld not live with my husband all tin. stl 17K*. ~ T The Coroner; tt uy not .—Because I lived this man. Mv husband also said they had an idea that deceased was- a German

hf , following Ifitor, dated August. 11, from Malcolm to tie IJorcli read: To C'ol'.nt do Borch,—lf I ever hear of vour trying to stoalor even talk to my \vife again. wherever I am 1 will get leave, and hunt you out ami give you suck ’ a. thrashing that your myii mother will not know you again. I 'vill thrash vou until I Juno maimed you for life This I swear before Cod. in U bean I believe, and Who D my witness.—l). Malcolm, The Coroner paid tlic following; was found on Malcolm: — In case of mv death 1 leave all my ntonov to Mrs Taylor, ' Hertford Heath, and cancel my prcuous will.—J Douglas Malcolm. “I SHCDDER TO THINK.’’ Mrs Taylor, said Mrs Malcolm, was her mother. The Coroner then read the followinC- letter from Maleotm to his wifi. datoo the day of the tragedy. It was found in his possc-SHion; — My dear, very .or n darling Dorothy,Dear Goal, there,is a time for everythingEvervthiug points, to it tln-i this on alnrt is the niost uiuiUerublo blackguard ever born. 1 shudder to think of it that li*' ever docs c. cu sneak to you drives me mad, 1 simply cannot stand it any longer. t am going to thrash him until he is unrecognisable. 1 may shoot- him if hj( has got a gun. 1 exnccl he Inis, ns he is (oo imicli of a. coward to stand a thrush i jug. If <he iiievitalde bus got to happen, ct course. I may get it in tic in el; hr-t You see. 1 am finite cool. 11 that hap ■ pi ns, oil, believe me, my own little darling, my beloved soul, whom 1 love so ah solulelv, believe me, :f is for you only. I swear to you that ( love you more than uuv man has ever loved a woman before, and if there is any wrong in me it i-, hi cause I love you too much. You an a. brave woman. You are noble, honorable, and uuright, with what a beautiful -S,d 1 1 e.tievc- in God. I said yesterday 1 did not ; but 1 do. 1 do. and T thank’ Him from the bottom of my heart for having cent me over in lime to save you from this devil incarnate. Tour honor is saved. Thank God, oil. thank God. Hood b'e, which means G .-d be with you I love you, and 1 shall go cu loving you for eternity, for ever and ever. ) know I shall meet you in the next world if tin worst happens, when you will come to me with oocn arms, and those beautiful eyes '(•'hilling, and say to me: “Douggie. I lOT'{rite.”—Yours for ever and ever, and •ilso lovingly, yotii husband, and very own Douggie. The Coroner’s vole * broke a> be read the I. tier. Ho was obviously touched by the language, and, turning to the jury, said; “1 have no questions t-o ask, gentlemen, if vou have not. ’ The jury returned a verdict ol justihabie homicide in self-defence. [Subscqiicntlv a jury in a higher Court found Malcolm not guilty, and he. wa> tbs charged.]