A TRAGIC AFFAIR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 4, 5 June 1913, Page 5

A TRAGIC AFFAIR.

"I DARE YOU TO PULL THE TRIGGER!"

WOMAN CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright, , London,, June 3.

At the trial of Jeannie Baxter for the murder of Burnaixl Hall, Mrs. Baxter related how Hall had forced a revolver duel upon Unwin, his rival lover, in her flat in December. When Unwin left, Mrs. Hall promised to marry Baxter, but when he asked her to fulfil her promise he picked up a revolver, and, whistling down the barrel, said: "I dare you to pull the trigger!" She caught his hand, when tli'e revolver went off and he was killed.

London, Later.

Mrs. Baxter was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Hall.

TRAGIC DEATH OF A WEALTHY

SPORT.

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

In circumstances as dramatic as ever a novelist imagined, ,a young and wealthy sportsman—Julian Bernard Hall (24) — met his death in his flat in Denman street, Shaftesbury Avenue, W.C'., at the hands, it is alleged, of Jeannie Baxter (25), a pretty widow, said to be of Scottish nationality, who lived with her six-year-old son in a flat at Carlton Mansions, Portsdown road, Maida Vale W. "Jack" Hall, as he was familiarly known to his associates, was a native of Shropshire, a man of independent means, and was well known in sporting circles. He was an accomplished boxer and golfer, and had recently taken up aviation. Last year he became a pupil of the Bristol Flying School, attached to the Brooklands Aerodrome, and was granted the Royal Aero Club's certificate in February. Between Hall and Mrs. Baxter there had been an alliance of long standing l —an alliance marked by stormy times and strange and startling incidents. A year ago, Mrs. Baxter was living under Mr. Hall's protection. Then they parted, and Mrs. Baxter lived under the protection of another man until nearly the end of last year, when there was an extraordinary scene at Carlton Mansions. WORTHY OF DUMAS.

It appears, that Mrs. Baxter, Mr. Hall, and the other man, whose name cannot be given, and who is now lying Beriously ill, were all at the flat together late one evening. Mr. Hall—it is believed :hat the proposition came from him—'suggested that he and the other man should then and there fight a duel for the possession of the woman with revolvers, which were in the flat. He idded the conditions that they should i light a cigarette and switch the lights off first. "The glowing tips," he said, "will show us where to shoot." As the lights went out the other man removed his cigarette. This infuriated Hall, who swore that his companion was not playing fair. The other laughed, whereupon Hall chased him round the room, firing a revolver as he ran. It is, however, stated that he did not fire to hit the man. One shot shattered the tiles of the hearth; another pierced a large photograph of Mrs. Baxter, which was standing on an occasional table in front of the windows, and embedded itself in ,the wall; a third went clean through the door of the room and lodged in the outer door of the flat, which was of thicker wood than the other. By this time the other man was clear away, and the arrival of an employee of the flats put an end to the scene. To him ihe explanation was given that in a fit temper Mr. Hall had fired at a pic-, ture of his rival. Whether or not the police became cognisant afterwards of what actually occurred is not clear, but it is understood that legal proceedings of some sort were projected, if not actually put in train. At any rate, tlifc upshot of the incident was that Hall persuaded Mrs. Baxter to return to his roof, and it is asserted that she did so

. ihi! strength of his promising to marry her. As . a matter of fact, the marriage was to have taken place the week before the tragedy, but a hitch occurred, and it is «aid to have been due to Mr. Hall having been seen with another woman. Quarrels occurred in consequence, and Mrs. Baxter is understood to have stated to the police that Here had recently been a row between them in consequence of his refusal to marry her. It is thought that she was determined he should make her hie wife, and with the object of persuading him to take this step visited his Hat on the day of the tragedy. The previous night Mrs. Baxter, according to her French maid, had a telephone call about midnight. and had a conversation which the maid presumed was with Mr. Hall. Immediately afterwards Mrs. Baxter put on her hat and cloak and went out, saying that she would return in an hour or two, but she did not 'return at all, and it is believed that she spent several hours dancing at a night club in the neighbourhood of Tottenham Court road. Shortly after 7 a.m. she called at Hall's flat in Denman street, but nothing untoward occurred there for about four hours. At 11 o'clock, however, the porter in charge of the chambers was' called into the flat to witness Mr. Hall's signature to a document. This is believed to be a will by which Mrs. Baxter would benefit. In less than three-quar-ters of an hour Mr. Hall was dead. To the amazement of the occupants of other rooms in the building four shots suddenly rang out, and the sounds also reached an adjoining restaurant. Vccording to Moses Fresco, a boy who was employed there, he "heard a noise like this —one bang, one scream, another bang, another scream, a third bang, a third scream, another bang, and another scream. I thought it w;is a man knocking a woman about." Instantly there was a wild commotion, and many people rushed up to Mr. Hall's flat to investigate, only to find that one of the bullets which had been fired had done its deadly work. In his bed they found Mr. Hall lying dead with a wound in his chest, and, standing quietly' by, with a heavy revolver still in her hand, was , Mr 9. Baxter. The woman made no attempt to leave, and when the police were summoned she was taken into custody. THE PRISONER'S ADMISSIONS. When arrested by Constable Thornett, prisoner said: "I did it. I shot him four times. We had arranged to do it. 1 hope it is not serious. He wanted me to shoot him in the mouth, and wanted me to place the revolver in his hand. I said: 'Xo fear; I'm not such a coward.' "

When the policciiuiri arrived 011 the scene. In- found tlio womnn dressed, except, for her outdoor clothes, and Very excited. The deceased. who was bleeding t>o!!i the month. vas lyin;; oil ,'i lied

;n a hack room, mid was panially nn i': !• M r->. I:a.\U",' lias been con;* milled for (rial on tr- capital rlwn;,..