DOCTOR CHARGED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 22 (Supplement)

DOCTOR CHARGED.

CONVICTED OF MURDER. DAUGHTER’S ESCORT SLAIN. Dr. Clyde L. Casey of La Harpe, 111., was ,convicted of murder in connection with the killing of a man who brought fiis 18-year-old daughter Jayne, home from a party late at night. The jury recommended a penalty of 14 years* imprisonment, the lightest sentence possible in Illinois for conviction on a murder charge. The jury deliberated about four hours as to whether Dr. Casey was guilty of murdering Homer Peck, 28. a former echool teacher. The tragedy occurred after Peck and a party of young folks had driven the doctor’s daughter home. Members of the party testified all had drunk to excess and that only one was capable of driving their automobile. Dr. Casey, dressed in hunting clothes, foad gone out to remonstrate with Peck and the others for keeping Miss Casey out 60 late. He seized the keys to the youths’ car to prevent them from driving away, he said, and later, in reaching in his pocket for them, withdrew the pistol also, •with which they had become entangled. He was talking with Peck, lie said, the pistol in his hand, when the automobile started backwards down an incline. and struck his elbow, causing him accidentally to discharge the pistol. The bullet struck Peck in the chin, coursed along his spine and came out his back. Peck died soon alter wards in a La Harpe hospital, while Dr. Casey was preparing to operate upon him. Two hospital nurses testified that at that time Royal and Lyle Landis, brothers, and State’s witnesses, who were members of the party, told them the shooting was accidental and assured the physician they would “stand back of

On the stand, however, they said Dr. Casev had walked to the car, drawn his pistyl and deliberately shot Peck.