DEATH SENTENCE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3827, 30 October 1936, Page 8

DEATH SENTENCE

UNPREMEDITATED CRIME. James Hickling, an Edgwa.e (London) kinema commissionaire, found guilty at the Old Bailey of the murder of Barbara Jessie Mant, aged 19 years, was recommended to mercy by the jury on the ground that the crime was unpremeditated. He was sentenced to death. Hickling, married in January, parted from his wife in March, met Miss Mant a few days later, and fell in love with her. Mr. L. Byrne, prosecuting, said Miss Mant had been keeping company with young Arthur Barfoot since August, 1933. She became a waitress at the kinema where Hickling was commissionaire* and became friendly with him. Hickling asked the girl to choose between himself and Barfoot. She replied: “It is only you I love, but I have decided on Micky” (Barfoot). After the night kinema performance the three went into a recreation ground. Hickling asked for a quarter of an hour alone with the girl to say good-bye. Barfoot agreed. When he went back he saw a struggle between the two, and Hickling strike Miss Mant with a knife. Hickling, in the witness box, said when Barbara told him that she had decided on “Micky” he had a lot of drink and bought the knife, intending to do away with himself in front of the girl. Mr. L. Carthew, K.C., defending Hickling, who had pleaded hot guilty: Did you intend to murder Barbara Mant? Hickling broke down and sobbed: “No, sir. I loved her too much.”