CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1926, Page 7

CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY

ALLEGATION OF MURDER. STORY OE. THE CRIME. PRISONER’S LETTER INTERCEPTED. (By Electrio Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received January 22, 10.40 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 21. Surprise caused at the trial of Stewart and Lincoln for the alleged murder of Richards by the reading of a letter from Lincoln written in prison to his sweetheart. In this he said that he and Stewart went to Richards’s house for the purpose of seeking money. They found half a bottle of brandy, which they consumed, and they then left taking two bottles of beer.

Later they returned, expecting to find Richards asleep. Instead they encountered him and shots were fired on both sides and Richards fell wounded. Lincoln said ho supported Richards’ head for a time and then bolted. He had nurtured no evil against Richards, since whose death the writer had “suffered hell.”

The letter was intercepted by the governor of the prison. The judge held that there was no evidence of murder against Stewart whom the jury acquitted.—A. and N.Z. cable. A FRANK CONFESSION. LINCOLN’sTdEFENCE. Received January 22, 11.55 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 21. Lincoln’s defence was a frank admission that he fired the shots. “I can’t say I fired at anything particularly,” ho said, “I simply fired in Richards’ direction. I was terrified because Richards was firing. I rushed at him and struck him with a bottle, v but I did not know 1 had killed 1 ' him.” Lincoln said he always carried a pistol because his father did. There was a fascination in the possession of such a thing. Counsel for the defence urged that the ' verdict should be one of manslaughter, which the jury agreed to. The judge, sentencing Lincoln said: “You have cut off by wicked folly the life of a young, happy and prosperous man, thereby forfeiting your own life. You were also young, with every possibility of being happy and useful.”

Stewart was thereupon placed in the dock and charged with robbery and violence. The Crown offered no evidence. The judge commented that it would be a gross miscarriage of justice if they did not charge Stewart, who was later arrested and charged with simple burglary.—A. and N.Z. cable.

THE EXTREME PENALTY. LINCOLN SENTENCED TO DEATH Received January 22, 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 21. Lincoln was sentenced to death.— A. and N.Z. cable. A Christmas tragedy occurred at Trowbridge, when Edward Charles Richards was found shot in his own garden. Ho made a statement to the police, who on Christmas Day arrested Bombardier Jack Lincoln at a house where a party was progressing. Lincoln said: “Do not break up the party; I will como quietly.” -Later another arrest was made.