CHARGE OF MURDER

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1935, Page 7

CHARGE OF MURDER

ALLEGED PACT FOR SUICIDE. ONE MAN TAKES OWN LIFE. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 8.30 p.m. Melbourne, Dec. 27. An extraordinary story of a death pact between two police trainees was told to the coroner at an inquiry to-day into the death by shooting of George Thomas Vickers, aged 24, whose body was found near the Albert Park lake on December 24. Lachlan McLachlan, who,' with Vickers, was discharged from the Victorian police force on December 21, allegedly made a statement which was read today in which he declared he and Vickers were dismissed following an incident with girls in a motor-car. A third man was with them when McLachlan and Vickers decided that in the event of dismissal the latter pair should commit suicide. McLachlan’s alleged statement continued: “We bought a revolver and tossed a coin to see who should. have first shot. Vickers said ‘lt’s hard to do but there is nothing else for it.* We shook hands and lay down on the grass. . “Vickers shot himself in the temple. I heard him breathing and decided to go for the ambulance.” A letter found on Vickers indicated his intention to commit suicide owing to the disgrace of being dismissed from the police force. The coroner committed McLachlan for trial on a charge of murder, finding that he had aided and abetted Vickers.