OCR Text |
Show i HE PLANNED HIS OWN DEATH How Sir William Hankfo'd 500 Year Ago Evaded Law Agalntt Committing Com-mitting 8ulclde. Suicide often adopt lngonloui methods, but the art of the felo de at neema not to have advanced material ly during the rrnturlei. The modern cage of a heavily Insured broker who on a feigned hunting trip stood bare leKKed In a quagmire for hours and wilfully contracted a fatal pneumonia la matched In cleverness by one 600 yeara old. The following facia are well vouched for, and Indeed were never questioned, ques-tioned, aayg the Green Rag. Sir William Wil-liam Hankford. Judge of tbe king's bench In the reigns of Edward III. Henry IV. Henry V and Henry VI. and at the time of bis death cblef justice of JCnglHtid, was a man of melancholy temperament. He seems to have contemplated suicide the greater part of his long life and during bis later years the Idea became a fixed purpose. Tbe act was of peculiarly serious consequences conse-quences In thoKe days for tbe reason that the law treated It aa a capital crime. The offender was burled at the cross roads, with a stake driven through his body, and all bis goods and property were forfeited to the crown, to the utter ruin of bis family. Hankford made good use of bis wits and succeeded In accomplishing his purpnxe without Incurring either unpleasant penalty. He gave open Instructions to bis gamekeeper, who had been troubled with poachers In the deer preserve, to challenge all trespasHers In the future and to shoot to kill If they would not stand and give an account. One dark night he purposely crossed the keeper s path, and upon challenge made rnotions of resistance and escape The faithful servant falling to recognize Ms master, followed fol-lowed instruction to the letter, aa was expected of him, and Sir William fell dead in his tracks. Tbe whole truth of tin.- HiTdlr was common knowledge, U'.it it was Impossible to establish a esse rf suicide by legal proof. The servant was protected by bis Instructions. Hankford bad honorable hon-orable burial and his estate passed to those whoe Interests as heirs be bad ao wisely considered. |