THE PAPAKAIO MURDER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 653, 17 October 1882, Page 2

THE PAPAKAIO MURDER.

[t'ftGSS ASSOO/A'l'fON TtCLEGUAM-]

Dunedin 1 , October 15

The Papakaio murder case, in which Alexander Beattie is charged with the murder of Sarah Adams, who was living with him as his wife, was continued aH day yesie'day at the Supieme Court. Mr Haggit. Crown prosecutor, started his address to the jury at 10 o'clock, and was followed by Air u'Mea^her,counsel for prisoner, who continued until 4 p.m. Mr Juslioe Williams began to sum up at 4.20 p.m.. and concluded about eight o'clock, when tbe jury reiired. As they had not come to any decision at midnight, they were locked i,p until Monday morning at ten. Considerable interest was displayed in the result after the publication in the evening paper of counsels' addresses, which enabled the reader to make out an intelligible story of the occurrence, which was a vain endeavor from the tangled mass of evidence, and the Ooutt door was crowded all the evening. Mr O'Meagher, counsel for the defence, set up the theory to the jury, not that the woman met her death by suicide, as the Crown prosecutor said he expected would be done, but that first she attempted suicide by hanging, which was unsuccessful. This was in a deseited hut near her residence, then in her own house she made a second attempt, this time using a razor and dying to cut her throat; again tho attempt was in vain ; that then, in a wretched state of mind, she wandered outside aud fell down a bank before coming to the creek and struck her head against a tree, and lastly fell into the small creek where she was found, wheie she died from cold and exposure. His Honor, in summing up, sdd the jury would have first to determine whether or not the woman died by murder. Doubt on this question wou!d render necessary the prisoner's acquittal ; but if they hid no doubton the point, then came the further question, did the accused commit it. Reviewing the medical evidence | as to the nature of the wounds on the head, be thought they must certainly come to the conclusion that the woman died by murder, and he then proceeded to set out the facts detailed for and against tho assumption that Beattie did the deed. October 16. The jury disagreed in tho Papakaio murder case, and anew trial was fixed for January next. Eight were for acquittal a nd four for conviction.