DOCTOR CHARGED

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1932, Page 3

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 bis 16-ycar-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 wa.s guilty of murdering Homer Peck, 28, a former school 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 tbeir automibile.

Dr Casey, dressed in bunting doilies bad gone out to remonstrate, with Peck and the others for keeping Miss Casey out so late. He seized the keys to the youths’ ear to prevent them from driving away, he said, and Inter, in reaching in his pocket for them, withdrew the pistol also, with which they had become entangled. He was talking with Peek, lie said, the pistol in his hand, when the automobile started backwards down an incline, an struck his chow, causing him accidentally to discharge the pistol. The bullet struck Peck in tile chin, coursed along bis spine and came out bis back.

Peek' died soon afterwards 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, ami States witnesses, who were members of the party, told them thg shooting was accidental and a r ;-

suml tlm physician they would “sUwid back of him.”

On tin- stand, however, they said Dr Casey bad walked to the car, drawn his pistol and deliberately shot Peck.