ALLEGED MURDER PLOT

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11583, 28 July 1923, Page 13

ALLEGED MURDER PLOT

TO GET FREE INSURANCE. When last year several .British newspapers began offering free insurance to subscribers, it was humorously suggested that perhaps the payment of a lump sum in case of death would lead to an increase, if not in crime, at least in suicide. Recently a Liverpool man was arrested on the charge of inciting another mar to murder for the purpose of collecting newspaper insurance. The arrested man is John Kersie. It was said at the hearing that Kersie, having registered his wife as a reader of two London newspapers, endeavoured to induce a young labourer, named Connolly, to hide in her bedroom and attempt to frighten her to death by appearing suddenly before her draped in a white sheet. If this did pot have the desired effect on Mrs Kersie’s weak heart Connolly was to take her by the heels and toss her over the banister. The last resource was xq have Connolly hit Mrs Kersie over .the head with a coal hammer. . . In all this, however, ■ Mrs Kersio a opinions were not taken into consideration. Although her husband stood to receive £SOO if she were killed to the satisfaction of tho insurance companies, she formed a strong distaste for tho scheme as soon, as she discovered it. She communicated with the authorities, with the result that Kersie was committed for trial at the next Manchester Assizes.