Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1919-09-24

Lancaster former motorcycle police
man of Columbia, was freed on the
charge Of murder by a jury late Fri
day night after trial lasting two days
| in which q brilliant array Of lawyers
| fought a hard battle. The trial was
, the result Of Il double killing at the
Columbia end of the Gervais street
bridge last May, when Lancaster shot
and killed his wife and Newton Lor-
! ick, a citizen of Lexington County. as
they were returning from an automo-
bile ride in Lexington County. Cole
L. Blease and a. w. Holman repre-
sented the defense, while Solicitor
George Bell Zimmerman assisted Soil
citor Spigner into the prosecution.
The jury was out little less than
three hours. Great interest was mani
tested in the case and the court room
was crowded to it's capacity.
4 summary Of the testimony for toe
prosecution showed that Lancaster
met the couple at the foot of the
bridge. Finding them in mutual en-
brace, he opened fire, first upon Lor-
lex and then upon his wife using two
pistols. Lancaster fell to the ground
after firing three shots, but was pick
Cd up by the transfer driver who was
with him, and later fired several more
shots into the form Of his wife. whose
Fctd% was literally riddlcd with bullet
hclc= Nj d&rl:ng wife, YOU caused
| 1t all, was his exclamation. LancaS-
! ter married Oryic D. Nippcr Il years
! ago and there were three sons. II. "A.
and 16 years old ard one daughter. 9
years old. born TO the couple. J.
:. Dunbar. managcr Of NanMetre'S
undertak king parior, Policeman r. II
Wilson, James Hartman, negro tansfer
driver. r. Fl. Howell, NJ a. Minis.
Denly Burdcll were used by the state
ter
The defense rested it's case upon the
unWrittcn law and Il plea Of temporary
insanity. Peace officers who were
present at the time Lancaster was ar
rested testified to unusual behavior on
the part Of the defendant, depicting
condition as highly nervous, a state
which lasted several days before the
return of the prisoner to normal.
->t the time OF the shooting Lancas-
ter was recovering from injuries sus-
tHined in Il motorcycle accident. which
confined him to :, hospital for several
weeks.
Lancaster himself. cool and collect
cd was the star witness for the de-
fensc. He underwent a gruelling cross
examination. Hut stuck closely to his
story. RccitinG now he had come to
suspcc; his wife and Lorick of Illicit
relations, he told Of seeing the dead
man dodginS hrhind u nearby house
on the day OF the tragedy after his
Wit" had told hir? Of her intention Of
going to Il picture show Aiming him
self with two pistols, he employed
trHrS!cr and proceeded in search OF
thr couple. Going to the river bridge,
hr soon >lw them coming from the
Lexington side. his wife i'll the arms
Of Lorick Claiming that the dead
man threw ono hand TO his side. Lam
caster said h. fired one shot and then
his mind became = blank. The defend
ant claimed that he did not intend to
Kill either his wife or her supposed
purannotr, but shot in his own defense.
\ warm legal battle was Waged over
! lii" ADMISSION Of an affidavit from AL
vim Lancaster son Of the defendant,
! for whom the claim was made that he
was physically unable to attend. 4
! commission was appointed by Judge
| Ernest Moore to examine the boy and
report to the court. The affidavit was
finally admitted as evidence, after 4
| rontiuance of the case had been re-
fused because Of the absence Of this
witness. The affidavit rccited Il knowl-
edge on the part Of the son of com
promising relations between his moth
cr and Lorick.