BOUND OVER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 June 1939, Page 5

BOUND OVER

LAWLOR BEFORE COURT I SHOOTING INCIDENT NEAR HOME OF DUCHESS OF KENT ACCUSED A NATIVE OF DUNEDIN | U P A —H\ Elect ric I'eleitraph -Copyright) | (Received 30th June. 9.20 a.m.) LONDON. 28th June. Vincent Rutledge Lawlor. who is alleged to have fired a shotgun pointed towards the Duchess of Kent outside her home on sth June, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to damage property and pleaded not guilty of intent to endanger life. He was bound over for a year on condition , that he goes to Australia within a month. The prosecution accepted the •'Mq not guilty of intent to endanger life. ii was stated that Lawlor was a native of Dunedin (N Z.) and spent most of his life in Australia. He had a good character, and served with Fifteenth Australian Light Horse, and was discharged in 1919 with the rank of sergeant with a 20 per cent disability pension. He later married and became I Hie father of one child. His wife I divorced him. after which he drank heavily and suffered a nervous breakdown. He was committed to a mental i home in 1932. and twice was allowed j trial leave, and once escaped. He was ! discharged in 1937. The prosecution recapitulated the ; events of sth June, stating that the | chances of hitting a target were remote |as the gun was a sawn-down German .22 rifle without sights. The judge, binding Lawlor over in a sum of £lO. said: "I am satisfied you had not positive intent. I think your mind was not in a state to arrive at sensible balanced decisions. I think it I best if y >u get back to where you have | blood relations.” | The judge ordered the forfeiture of ; the gun and ammunition, and instructed Lawlor to place himself in care of | a probation officer until his departure.