Murder
Whilst at home at Honingham Hall, his estate in Norfolk, England, Teichman heard the sound of gunfire nearby. He went out to confront two poachers (Private George E. Smith of Pittsburgh and Private Leonard S. Wijpacha of Detroit) who were trespassing in the grounds of his estate. Both intruders were American soldiers based at a nearby USAAF airfield and each was armed with an M1 carbine. Sir Eric was shot during the confrontation, receiving a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Private Smith was subsequently arrested, court-martialled at RAF Attlebridge, convicted of murder and executed by hanging at HMP Shepton Mallet on 8 May 1945 (i.e. VE day), despite appeals for clemency, including one from Lady Ellen Teichman. His companion, Private Wijpacha (sp. Wojtacha?), was charged with being an accessory to murder, but was not sentenced to death.
Read more about this topic: Eric Teichman
Famous quotes containing the word murder:
“Curiosity, easily frightened, takes refuge in puzzles, murder mysteries, and spectator sports.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
““It’s as plain as plain can be;
This woman shot her lover, it’s murder in the second degree,”
—Unknown. Frankie and Johnny (l. 73–74)
“Anybody who’s been through a divorce will tell you that at one point ... they’ve thought murder. The line between thinking murder and doing murder isn’t that major.”
—Oliver Stone (b. 1946)