Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard was 20 years and 10 months of age when he enlisted leaving a wife, Lillian Chrystal, and baby daughter at Woody Point. He was captured by the Germans at Reincourt in 1917 and held prisoner of war until December 1918 when he was repatriated. On his return to domestic life Richard found it difficult to settle down. His younger brother, Charles [1935] enlisted before him in 1915. Their sister, Mary Catherine Devers, married George Corscadden and lived at Redcliffe.

NOT GUILTY.
WOODY POINT TRAGEDY
TRIAL OF THOMAS CHRYSTAL.
"It won't be stretcher bearers this time, it will be coffins," was one of a number of threats said to have been uttered by Richard Lindie Devers towards his father-in-law,  homas Chrystal, at Woody Point, on January 12 last. Chrystal was charged in the Supreme Court yesterday, before Mr. Justice Webb and a jury, with the wilful murder  of  Devers. Mr. F. W. O'Rourke prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. E. T. Real (Instructed by Messrs. Crawford and Williamson) appeared for Chrystal. Mr. F. W. O'Rourke (Crown  Prosecutor), outlining the case, said that, on the afternoon of January 12, deceased, who had been drinking heavily, spent most of his time about the home of the accused.  He seemed to have resented the fact that his wife and daughter were there. He called out to his wife, "You come home with me," and she replied, "You go home and have a  sleep I will come afterwards." Deceased was a returned soldier, and was mentally affected, but was a powerfully built man. In consequence of his threats his wife went to the Redcliffe police station about 7 p.m. On her return deceased gripped her around the throat and attempted to throttle her. She screamed, broke away, and rushed into  the house, where she lay down, exhausted. A few minutes afterwards she heard a shot. Evidence would show that other persons had heard the shot, and some had seen a flash, and saw deceased fall, but there was only the prisoner's own statement as to what had actually happened.
Ralph Burge, sergeant of police at Redcliffe, gave evidence that the prisoner, confessing the shooting, said "He" (referring to deceased) "has been around the house most of  the afternoon using obscene language, threatening to tear us to pieces, and to burn us out to-night. I threatened that if he came inside my property I'd shoot him, and so I  did. When his wife came home he assaulted her." The prisoner several times repeated, "If I had not shot him he would have shot some of us." Corroborative evidence was  given by Constable Harry West. 
Archibald Brookway, medical practitioner, described the wound in deceased's neck, and said that, judging by the powder marks, the shot must have been fired from a  distance of not more than two feet. Evidence was given by James Webster Hiddleston, clerk; William John McGregor, postal employee; and James Littlejohn Brownin, council  employee, who were In the neighbourhood of Chrystal's home on the night of January 12.

DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.
Phyllis Maud Devers, aged 14, daughter of deceased, stated in evidence that she had more control than any one else over her father, but that he had become more difficult  to manage lately. He had threatened and struck her mother previously, and, on January 12, threatened to burn her grandfather's home down. Lilian Elizabeth Devers, widow of deceased, said that she had been married 15 years, and had lived with her husband save while he was at the war. Lately her husband had been drinking very heavily, and his mind had been affected. He had frequently ill-treated her when intoxicated. He objected to her going to her parents' residence, and on the afternoon of January 12 he  hung around the house and threatened to burn it, and to blow it up with a bomb. She took his threats seriously, and made a complaint to the police. Her husband once kept gelignite at their home This concluded the case for the Crown. Mr. Real submitted that there was no evidence of intent, and asked his Honour to withdraw the case from the  jury. Mr. Justice Webb ruled that there was a case to go to the jury.

FAMILY FEUD.
The accused, Thomas Chrystal, old age pensioner, stated in evidence that deceased, his son-in-law, had been on bad terms with himself and his wife since the latter had  summoned him for assault. Deceased had assaulted witness three times, once with a paling, and was a violent man, who usually carried out his threats. On January 12  deceased was drunk, and said to witness: "It won't be stretcher bearers this time; it will be coffins." He threatened to blow up the house after dark, and warned his wife  and daughter to get out in time. Witness's daughter, deceased's wife, went for the police, and when she returned deceased assaulted her. She broke free, and deceased  followed her inside the gate. Witness went and got a shot-gun, which had been standing inside the back door, having been used at the New Year for shooting flying foxes.  He warned deceased to keep out, and the latter closed with him saying, "I'll kill you first." In the struggle the gun went off, killing deceased. By Mr. O'Rourke: He did not tell the police that he had threatened to kill deceased if he came on witness's property. He only took the gun to frighten deceased, and had no intention of shooting him. He did  not voluntarily pull the trigger. After brief addresses by counsel, his Honour summed up. A verdict of not guilty was entered by the jury after a retirement of 10 minutes.