MURDER CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1932, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE

AVIATOR’S DEATH LANCASTER’S ALLEGED FORGERY Disited Press Association—By Electric NEW YORK, May 2. A Miami message .states -thas the aviator, Captain Lancaster, lias • again been gaoled, and is being charged in the first degree, with the murder of the airman, Baden Clarke, following on bos sieged confession that lie forged the suicide notes to 'Mrs Keith Mil er, .(the divorcee, who wail to have married Clarke, and who has been Lancaster's companion on many High:s). (Received this day at P.2L a.ui * NEW YORK, May 3.

Ibe State Attorney quoted Captain Lancaster as admitting freely that he wrote and -signed the .suicide notes, which hand writing experts have pronounced a-s “forgeries.” The Attorney said: “Lancaster told' me that, when he awakened by the shooting which took place in the room which the two men occupied, his first thought was to protect himself and Chubbie (Mr 9 Keith Miller).’’ After writing notes on Clarke’s typewriter, the Attorney quoted Lancaster As saying that lie “attempted, to revive Cla.rko who was unconscious from a bullet wound In the head.” | The Attorney continued: “Lancaster's purpose, he told 1 me, was to have •Clarke sign the suicide notes.’” When Lancaster was unable to nrouse Clarke, the Attorney said, quoting Lancaster, that he took a -pencil and signed one note “Haden,” and the other “H.” Mil’s Keith Miller was not held today as a witness, hut will, be called aetr. Her .statement -said: “I am absolutely confident that everything will come, out all right, for I know the truth. Lancaster will lie cleared for he i.s innocent. I know it, and my faith remains unshaken.”

Lancaster asserting innocence, said : “I wrote the notes that Clarke might sign them, thus saving up from being implicated in liis death, but he‘died before he could help me.’’