NEW MURDER THEORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10679, 28 January 1913, Page 2

NEW MURDER THEORY.

CHARGE dF STRANGLING BY

JIU-JITSU,

The question whether it is possible to strangle a person without leaving marks on the throat was discussed at the recent trial of Mr Burton W, Gibson, a New York lawyer, who is accused of murdering a woman client by means ox iiu-jitsu strangulation—a form of pressure on the throat which is said to leave no mark of violence.- . ' • The woman met her death mysteriously whilo boating with the lawyer on a lake, and it is alleged that ho had previously drawn up her will. At lirst it was thought that she was drowned through falling from the boat, but suspicions arose that she was murdered while struggling in the water, arid the lawyer was arrested. Dr Scliultze. the New York coroner's physician, had given it as his opinion that Mrs Szabo"died of strangulation, and not from drowning. This testimony corroborated the evidence of two doctors who were previously examined.

By means of a photograph of tlio organs of Mrs Szabo's throat, Dr Scliultze, contrasting the picture with one showing a normal throat, illustrated his contention that the woman was strangled by force applied to the throat. One of tho witnesses testified that from the shoro of Greenwood Lako, at a distance of 900 yds, he sawGibson just before the tragedy struggle, with Mrs Rsn'bo in the boat and make a motion with his hand in tho direction of her throat., Counsel for tho defence has maintained that the condition of the organs of the throat was due to the handling of tho body by the-undertakers, several of whom successively had charge of it before it was interred.

The jury, hcing unahln to agree, wore discharged, a.nd Gibson was remanded.