Mary Evelyn Dillon, twenty-nine, accused at Hawkshead (Cake District) recently of the manslaughter of twenty-six-year-old John Smith, walked from the court a free woman.
Prosecuting counsel admitted in court before the charge was dismissed: "Not only are the prosecution unable to disprove the story this woman has told, but there is specific cvičence available fully to confirm it."
Mrs. Dillon was alleged to have killed Smith by shooting him with a double-barrelled gun in a lonely boathouse on Lake Windermere on Christmas Day.
Her counsel (Mr. W. C. Morris) had stated at a previous hearing that she cat a complete answer to the charge, states the "Daily Mirror."
Mrs. Dillon, a smart-looking branette, was smuggled quietly into the little court, which was packed, chiefly with women.
On a table were several labelled bottles, a soda siphon, an oil lamp, books, and various articles of clothing. A double-barrelled gun rested against the table.
Mr. H. J. Barham, for the prosecution, said Smith was joint tenant of a boathouse at Pullwood, with a man named Harrop.
About 12.45 a.m. on Christmas Day two shots were heard, and the evid-ecca indicated that Smith met his death from a gunshot wound from a double-barrelled shot-gun.
The gun was fired when Smith and Mrs. Dillon alone were in the boathouse. It was clear that Smith was shot from a short range—only two inches or so probably.
The two people arrived at the boathouse on Christmas Eve. They were expected to stay over the Christma:
Mr. Fox, caretaker at the lodge there, had a telegram, and he expected them. Smith introduced the woman as his wife when they arrived.
Fox helped them with their luggage to the boathouse, left about 9.30 and went back to the lodge, which was half a mile from the boathouse.
On Christmas morning, about 1.30, continued Mr. Barham, Fox heard a woman crying outside his lodge. He went out and saw Mrs. Dillon there.
She was in great distress, and was sobbing out something like, Jacko. Jacko, blood, get a doctor."
Fox went back to the boathouse and Mrs. Fox telephoned for a doctor, who of to the boathouse about 10 am. and found Smith lying on the floor of the living-room He had probably been dead about an hour.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.