CHARGE OF MURDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 931, 1 February 1924, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER.

BRISBANE CASE ADJOURNED. BRISBANE, Jan. 30. James Laydon was charged with the wilful murder of A. E. Whitford. He was remanded to February. Laydon shot Whitford in front of the Tivoli Theatre. According to the story told by Mrs Laydon, her husband is a returned soldier, who suffered from the effects of gas. He and Whitford were very friendly. Whitford frequently visited the house to play cards and Laydon also assisted Whitford in the election campaign. Then a breach came and Laydon accused his wife of certain relations between herself and Whitford, which she denied. Quarrels followed, with threats against Whitford. On the night of the tragedy he asked her to accompany him to a picture show. When Laydon saw Whitford and his wife lie entered the vestibule, dragged his wife thither and accused Whitford of breaking up the home. Whitford smacked Laydon across the face and then walked out. Laydon, still dragging his resisting wife, followed and fired five shots with an automatic pistol at Whitford in the presence of the latter’s wife. Mrs Laydon attributed the crime to the madness of unfounded jealousy.— Press Association.