SENTENCED TO DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19032, 9 June 1924, Page 5

SENTENCED TO DEATH

THE DOUBLE MURDER AT APPIN. SYDNEY, June 6. William Simpson has been found guilty of the murder at Appin of Constable Flynn and Guy, Clift, and sentenced to death. [Constable Flynn had arrested Simpson, who was employed at the Cordeaux dam works, on a charge of breaking and entering the store at the works. The prisoner was not hand-cuffed, and was placed in a car owned and driven by Clift, supervising engineer at the dam. After 11 miles had been traversed, prisoner drew a revolver, and placing it against Flynn’s side, fired. Clift, hearing the shot, before the car stopped, jumped on to the footboard and grabbed Simpson, who still held the smoking revolver. A terrible struggle followed, the combatants falling on the roadway, where another shot was fired, the bullet entering Clift’s groin. Despite his wound, Clift continued the struggle, and wrenched the revolver from the murderer’s hand. When the pain of his wound compelled Clilt to release his man, the latter decamped. Clift climbed into the car to drive it to Appin in an effort to save Flynn, who lay huddled on the floor of the carl After a terrible drive he reached Appin, but as soon as the car came to a standstill he collapsed, and was taken to hospital. It was then found that Constable Flynn was dead, and Clift later succumbed to his wound.]