SHOT DEAD IN STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 11

SHOT DEAD IN STREET.

SCOTTISH SENSATION.

CLERGYMAN CHARGED.

ACCUSED FOUND INSANE

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received November 18, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 17. The trial was concluded to-day, at Edinburgh, of the Rev, Peter Carmichael Mair, aged 41, of Haywood, Lanarkshire, and Hawthorne Vale, Leitli, a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, on a charge of fatally shooting Mr. James McNair Dalgleish. Medical evidence was given to the effect that accused believed himself to have been the chosen instrument of Providence in the tragedy. Several doctors said accused was suffering from delusional insanity and believed his act justifiable.

Letters which accused wrote to the Lord Advocate contained remarkable passages. One declared: " I am entirely blameless aijd can resume my duties with still greater devotion and deeper fervour and spiritual understanding." The jury returned a verdict of insanity and accused was sentenced to be detained during the King's pleasure.

Mr. Dalgleish, who was 63, a master decorator, was going down Stanley Road, Lciili, at about 8 a.m. on August 30 to open his shop, when lie was seen to speak to someone. Revolver shots were heard and Mr. Dalgleish fell to the ground. He was removed to the Edinburgh Infirmary, where it was found that lie was dead. Mr. Dalgleish was a native of Leitli and had been in business there 28 years. He had been connected with the Salvation Army for 40 years and was largely responsible for the formation of the Leitli Salvation Army Band. He was conductor of the band for 33 vears and toured Scotland and London with it. After Marr's arrest, lie was taken to the Edinburgh Police Court, where he was remanded. Later in the day lie was brought beforo (he sheriff, when the charge was altered from "wilful murder to that of " shooting with a revolver and killing." Mr. Andrew Marr, father of the accused, had died at Haywood 10 davs previously at the age of 83. In a reference to the shooting at the time the Edinburgh correspondent of the Sunday Times said : Thomas Drummond, an errand boy, aged 14, told mo he was standing at the corner of Stanley Road when lie saw a man coming along Willi a small leather case in his hand. 11 Mr. Dalgleish. said tho boy, " was coming in the opposite direction on the other side of tha street. When they were almost opposite each other tho man took* a revolver out. of his case and fired three fimes. Mr. Dalgleish dropped to the ground. The man with the revolver crossed the street toward him and fired another shot. He then walked away. Mr. Haslam, a shopkeeper, said that earlier in the, morning he saw the man with the case looking np Stanley Road. Mr. Dalgleish came along the street at a regular time every morning, Mr. Haslam added. " The man was standing there as cool as you or me, and shortly afterwards r was shocked to bear of tho shooting affair." Other onlookers say the man with the revolver turned round and walked calmly along Stanley Road with his hands in his pockets. Nobody interfered with him. This afternoon Mr. Dalgleish was to have attended the funeral of liis brother. To-day was also tho anniversary of tho death of a son, who Inst his life eight years ago in a tramway accident near the scene of this tragedy." Tt is stated that Mr. Marr has been ill for some time, and that property belonging to Mr. Dalgleish, winch was formerly the property of Mr. Marr's father, ha* been in dispute. The accused was ordained lo the ministry in 1917. TTaywood Church is in the Presbytery of Lanark. It has a membership of only about 70.