A PAINFUL SCENE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 90, 29 May 1877, Page 3

A PAINFUL SCENE.

A Home paper reports that at the Liverpool Assizes,' lately, John Calaghan, 17 years of age, was indicted for the murder of Henry John Pennington, tin-plate worker, at Manchester, on Novemberlßth. The prisoner was with two men in a public house in Lower Cambridge-street, when a dispute arose, which resulted in all three being turned out. They went into the street in ! a violent rage, and in a moment or two were seen armed with open knives. A crowd collected, a general disturbance arose, and the evidence in the prosecution showed that Pennington, who interfered to protect a relative from the violence of the mob, was stabbed in the side by the prisoner. He was removed to the infirmary, where he died from the effects of his injuries. A man named Bailey was also stabbed in the elbow by the prisoner. ■

For the defence, witnesses were called, who stated that the deceased was stabbed by a man named Garrity ? a companion of the prisoner's, who. absconded

Mr. Charley, M.P., who defended the prisoner, urged that there was no evidence against him except the statement made by deceased, and the probabilities ■were, that the man who inflicted the fatal wound was Garrity.

The jury-found the prisoner" guilty, with a recommendation to mercy on account of his youth.

On being asked the usual question, the prisoner burst into tears, clasped bis hands together, and falling on his knees in the dock, exclaimed in loud terms, " Oh, Lord Jesus in heaven knows I am innocent? Oh' Lord have mercy on me?" , . •

As,he was being raised to his feet by a gaoler to receive his sentence, he cried, " Oh God, forgive all that swore my life away ! God in heaven be merciful to me?" The utmost terror was depicted upon the wretched youth's countenance, and it was with great difficulty that he could be quieted to hear the dread sentence of death.

His Lordship, addressing him expressed his entire concurrence with the verdict. He would take care that the recommendation of the jury should be forwarded to the proper quarter, he felt bound to entreat the prisoner not to anticipate that any step would be taken in his behalf. It was not usual, simply because a person was young, to make an exception in his favour ; and in this case there was no circumstance except his extreme youth which was likely to have weight with the authorities. His Lordship then passed sentence of death in the usual form, and after the closing words, " May God have mercy on your soul,"

had been solemnly pronounced by the judge, the prisoner cried out—" Oh, God in heaven ! Oh, God in heaven knows ' I'm, innocent!"

As he was being hurried by the'gaolers to the cells below the court, he continued his cries, repeating again and again that he was innocent. The painfulness of the scene was enhanced by screams and groans from a woman who was sitting behind the dock, and who proved,, to be prisoner's mother. She was removed from the court by two policemen, sobbing and crying, " Oh, my poor orphan 1" It is stated that the prisoner was born in gaol, and that. his father died in gaoi. , '.<■■.'.'..■■'.■■ ',.' .' ;'.. "■;