MURDER TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1932, Page 5

MURDER TRIAL

GAPT. LANCASTER

QUARREL BETWEEN BOTH MEN. (Uuited Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copying!] t.; ’ u j NEW YORK, August 2., At the murder trial of Captain Lancaster, on the charge of mu.dei'.ng Walter Clarke, the American airman (who was engaged to Mis Keith Miller,the- divorced wife of a Aleihourne. journalist', and the companion of Lancaster* on various flights), a jury ot twelve was selected.

Each juror said he had rio compunction against capital punishment, and in reply to questions hy Air Carson, said they would not allow the sordid Lifts in the lives of the defendant anil Airs Keith Aliller to influence their opinions. '

. Jt was -stated that threats were made against the late Walter Clarke by Captain AV. N. Lancaser, when the latter learned of the growing attachment between Clarke and Airs Keith Miller, were mentioned in the prosecutor’s opening statement to-day, ,as Lancaster went on his trial for murder.

The State’s Attorney, Air N. Vernon Hawthorn, said that he would, have to prove that Lancaster, upon" hearing of the gossip of the attachment between Clarke and Mrs . Keith Miller, ‘’paced the floor in a rage.” and threatened “to get rid of him.” The State Attorney said that lie would * also show that Lancaster made other threats on other occasions as information of the relations between Clarke and Mrs ■ Aliller reached him while he wai/.m the West on a business trip. In’ St. Louis, Lancaster was notified that Clarke and Airs Miller had decided to marry. He hurried back to Miami, and within twelve hours after his" arrival, Clarke was dead, shot through the head with a pistol which Lancaster allegedly had bought in St. Louis.

Mrs Keith Aliller accompanied Lancaster to the Court. She reiterated it as her conviction that he was innocent. She will /appear as the principal, witness for the defence.

EVIDENCE BY MRS MILLER. QUARREL BETWEEN BOTH MEN. MIAMI (Florida), August 3. 'Airs Keith Aliller testified to-day that Lancaster ‘contemplated suicide in order that she and Clarke might receive the thousand dollars, from liis insurance policy on their wedding day. * Airs Miller said that the men quarrelled over her affection at dinner the night before Clarke was shot. They settled their differences however. She had locked her room door when Clarke, .told her that he did not want Lancaster to go there and talk her out of her marriage plans. , She said that she was convinced that Clarke killed himself. He often' talked of suicide, particularly when ifi a violent rage, or depressed. She added that she and Clarke had talked of Committing suicide together, because. 1 of “our position as far as Bill, is concerned.” Mr Hawthorne : “Did Clarke. discuss Suicide'the night before he‘was shot? All’s Aliller: “No.”

Air Hawthorne; “In trying to save Lancaster and impress the public with his innocence, did you not say that j T Ou would issue a statement to th». newspapers that you killed Clarke if Lancaster were held ?’ ' Airs Aliller hesitated and then replied: “It sounds, radical, but- 1 say that.” i, :