A NEW TYPE OF CRIME

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1926, Page 11

A NEW TYPE OF CRIME

MURDER AND SUICIDE itf A MOTOR. NO APPARENT MOTIVE. London, Sept. 29. A strange mystery seems to be involved in the story of a motor found burning within sight of the owner s home. Within the burning car, which blazed so furiously that onlookers eould not approach it, were to be seen Mr. L. H. Marshall, of South Mills Farm, Blunham, near Bedford, and Mrs. Marshall, Mr. Marshall sitting upright with his hands on the steering wheel, and Mrs. Marshall beside him. The inquest revealed the strange fact that the doors of the car were not fixed and that on the outbreak of fire it would have been easy to get out of the car. Why did not Mr. and Mrs. Marshall make their escape? In the answer to that question lies the solution of the mvsterv. At the end of the inquiry held by the eoroner, the jury returned a verdict of “murder and suicide.” Certainly the facts point to this, but the strange thing that still remains to be discovered is the motive for the double crime. Altogether, we have in this case one of those in which the detective, who work on psycho logical lines, a'hould find a pretty problem. During the inquiry the drama has been reconstructed step by step. The coroner pointed out that the crime had been planned, evidently, for some time. The final incidents were briefly as follows: — * September -6.—Mtv Marshall, having obtained a license, bought a revolver and 50 rounds of ammunition. The cartridges were too big, and he filed the rims of some of them’ to fit the revolver. September 9 (morning).—Mr. Mstrshall bought loz prussic acid, saying it was to kill a dog. September 9. —9 p.m., Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, having visited friends in the neighbourhood, set out in their car, to return to their home at South Mills Farm, Blunham, near Bedford. They then both seemed cheerful. About 10.40., Mr. Marshall shot his wife as she eat by his side in the car and threw the revolver over a bridge into the river at Great Barford. 11 p.m., he drew up the ear at a spot alongside the Ridge Road, where an incline begins; poured petrol over the body of his wife and the seats of the ear; drank the prussic acid (leaving the bottle at his side); set fire to the ear, and with a last effort, jammed in his clutch, letting the ear run down the incline, where he obviously intended it to overturn. That the ear did not so capsize was one mistake, but even if it had, one other happening which was not “according to schedule” would have betrayed the faet that it was not an accident. The revolver was thrown into the river without sufficient thought. Had it been thrown where it was deeper it might never have been discovered. There, then, is another almost perfect crime falling short by an apparently trival detail.

The verdict of. murder and suicide given by the jury has been condemned by some lawyers and < doctors, who declared that the jury should have returned an open verdict. As it is, a sum approximating to nearly £ll,OOO will probably have to be paid by the insurance companies invalved. This would have been nearer £16,000 had not one policy, amounting to £5OOO, contained. a "suicide” clause.

Still another turn has peen given to this strange happening by the suggestion that the unfortunate husband may have been suffering from ’’sleepy sickness,” evidence of which is to be found in statements that he had fallen asleep when playing golf and at other unusual times. In view of the terrible effects of this mysterious ailment on the .mentality and the character of sufferers from it, the theory is not merely interesting but plausible.