LAWLOR IN COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1939, Page 5

LAWLOR IN COURT

ALLEGED FIRING TOWARD DUCHESS OF KENT DENIAL BY ACCUSED MAN POLICE AND OTHER EVIDENCE HEARD. SHOT FIRED AS CAR WAS PASSING. Sy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 13. When the hearing of the charge against Vincent Rutledge Lawlor, who is alleged to,have fired a shotgun pointed toward the Duchess of Kent outside her home on June 5, was resumed in the Westminster Police Court today, the prosecution said that accused was an Australian who arrived in London on April 6. He had been working as’a welder’s assistant at Waterloo Bridge. Today-- the accused was i further charged with a similar offence on June 4, when the window of Earl Harewood’s House was broken by a bullet. The prosecution stated that 21 rounds of ammunition fitting the gun produced in Court, and also 10 airgun pellets, were found in Lawlor’s possession. One thousand more pellets, were discovered at his lodgings in Newington Causeway. Lawlor pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. For the prosecution it was said that on the . evening of June 4, a Scotland Yard man in the vicinity of the Earl of Harewood’s home heard a shot, and saw a man thrust something in his pocket, then mount a bicycle and ride off quickly. A bullet hole was later found in a window of the Earl of Harewood's dining room. Pellets found at the Earl of Harewood's home closely resembled those found in Lawlor’s possession. Lawlor was next seen on June 5, sitting on'the porch of a house at a corner of Belgrave Square, holding something like a piece of wood and aiming at a corner of the square. The Duchess of Kent was passing by in a car and when she was abreast of Lawlor he fired a gun, the bullet missing the car. Later a portion of a' bullet was found on the pavement. Lawlor mounted a bicycle and rode away toward Buckingham Palace. An eye-witness named Kirkwood was picked up by the police and their car pursued Lawlor, who exclaimed: "There is no need for this fuss. I am entitled to have a gun. I’ve a certificate for it.” He added: "The gun jammed a few days ago and I was trying to undo it in Belgrave Square when it went off.”

The prosecution continued that the firearm was a .22 rifle of German manufacture, with which accurate shooting is impossible. Two addresses—3 Belgrave Square and 32 Green Street (residences of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Earl and Countess of Harewood) were written on the back of Lawlor's firearm certificate.

The accused, remarked in explanation: “I wrote them down becaus6 I was told that was where the dukes and kings lived. I wanted to see a duke.” Geoffrey Robert Kirkwood, a company director, who was an eye-wit-ness of the incident in Belgrave Square, cross-examined, said he could not bo positive that the accused aimed at the Duchess of Kent's car. but he obviously aimed at something. Counsel for the defence said Lawlor wanted it placed on record at the first opportunity that he never at any time had any desire or intention to harm or injure the Duchess or members of the Royal Family. Lawlor was committed for trial on both charges and remanded in custody.