The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-09-25
LANCASTER FREED
BY JURY'S VERDICT
PATROLMAN WHO KILLED HIS
WIFE is ACQUITTED.
Another Case Pending
But Trial For killing Wife's Com
panion Will Not Come Up
During This Term.
other Case Pending


force. on trial for the murder of his
wife, Mrs. Allie B. Lancaster. The
killing occurred on May % of this
year, at which time Lancaster also
shot to death Newton S. Lorick, his
wife's companion in an automobile.
Lancaster is still to face trial for
the killing of Lorick, but this case
will not come up at the present term
Of court.
Though locked up for the night
about 1890 o'clock the jury let it be
known about 1880 that verdict
had been reached, and officials of the
court returned to receive it. 1t was
read shortly after IL o'clock.
Lancaster himself was the princi-
pal witness of the closing day of the
trial. He testified that his mind was
a perfect blank after" he fired the
first shot at the couple when they ap-
preached in an automobile from the
Congaree River bridge.
The motorcycle policeman, facing
a courtroom which was jammed to
suffocation, made his statement as to
the circumstances leading up to and
surrounding the double tragedy. At
the trial with him were members of
his family, including two of his young
sons and his little daughter, the lat
ter being taken out when anything
bearing on the alleged infidelity OF
her mother was brought out.
Lancasted said when he got out OF
the automobile, his wife threw up
both hands and said to Lorick, my
God Newt, there is Eugene"
Describes Shooting.
tsWith that" continued the patrol
man, s'Lorick turned his head and
looked towards me, and as he turned
his head he threw his hand from the
steering gear to his hip pocket, and
when he did fired, and from that my
mind was blank"
From the time of the first shot,
Lancaster testified, his mind was a
perfect blank until he came to him
SELF at the police station several
days later, and he had no recollection
as to how he got back to his car or
anything else connected with the
tragedy.
Lancaster said when he got out OF
had been brought to his home from
local hospital, where he was treated
for broken leg, sustained while on
duty, he became suspicious OF the
relations of his wife and Lorick, who,
he claimed, posed as one of his best
friends. He detailed several instances
which, he claimed, made him doubt
full of his wife's fidelity.
Went in Search of Wife.
He testified that on the afternoon
of the tragedy Mrs. Lancaster tolo
him she was going to motion PIC
+nre show. He testified that he then
vent in search of his wife, going TO
+he Geryais street bridge in a trans
fer car driven by negro chauneur'
James Harmon, who yesterday detail
ad the circumstances Of the double
killing He swore that he saw MS
wife and Lorick coming across the
bridge in an automobile. He told OF
having to use crutches, stating tna'
bis leg was still in a plaster OF Paris
cast. He was looking through tne
hack window of the car, which hao
the curtains up. Lancaster did not
testify as to how he knew that the
connle was coming over the GerVals
s+roa+ bridge. which is four or more
miles from his home.
ct looked across the BRIDGE Ian
caster testified. 81 saw my wife anu
Newton Lorick coming in an auto
mobile. She was in the front seat
with him. Just about the time
looked I saw her put her left arm
around his neck and kiss him..
The testimony of the State as oe
tailed by the chauffeur, Harmon anu
other witnesses, was that Lancaster
was helped into his car by Harmon
vbo drove it up to the Lorick auto
mobile which had been stopped oS a
post on top of steep embankmen'
and that Lancaster fred the remain
ing shots in his revolver and those OF
another pistol into the bodies OF MS
wife and Lorick. Some witnesses tes-
tilted that they we're dead after the
first shots, and Others swore that
Mrs Lancaster opened her eyes and
looked at her husband before the last
shots we're discharged. In rebuttal
to Lancaster's testimony of alleged
loss of memory, tIs State today put
I'D MAGISTRATE Ollie Mefford and Depu-