FARMER SHOT DEAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40040, 17 December 1929, Page 1

FARMER SHOT DEAD.

(BOY SAVED FROM HANGING. “COLD-BLOODED” MURDER. “Youlr youth saves you from the hanging you so well deserve,” said Judge Wlasley in the Court of St. Arnaud, Victoria, recently, when Eric Pike, aged 151 years, was charged with having murdered John Smith, aged; 30, a farmer, of \Yervimall. ' At the itlriall the 'charge was re-,, dueed to one of manslaughter, to which Pike pleaded guilty. The jury was then discharged, and Pike was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with • hard labour, with subsequent detention in a rcfonnatory. “The killing was a deliberate and callous one, there being a pumping of bullets by accused until 'Smith dropped,” said the ,'Qrown Prosecutor, Mr. 'Sproule. “Smith apparently had spoken to Pike, who re-p-lied with a bullet, and, on the principle that dead men tell no tales, Pike pursued Smith, and lined further shots.” 'Robert iSmitli, brother of deceased, said that he found his brother’s body riddled with 'bullets in the hush. The Judge said that Pike had committed a cold-blooded and callous murder. He was not safe to be at large. Pike seemed to think that if anyone quarrelled with him, i! 11 he had to do was to shoot.