THE CAPENESS CASE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1804, 17 July 1913, Page 7

THE CAPENESS CASE.

ACCUSED ACQUITTED. By Telejraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. July 17, 1 a.m.) Melbourne, July 16. At the trial of George Samuel Capeness, who was charged with the murder of his wife on April 28 last, the Chief Justice, aftor tearing the evidence, directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. The accused was discharged accordingly. There are some unusual features about the Cmpeness case. When the inquest commenced (on May 16), Capeness testified that he resided in the Oxford Chambers. At five o'clock on the morning of his wife's death he was informed by the caretaker that his wife* had fallen out of a window. Witness asked his wife'what had happened, and she replied that she did not know. Witness and his wife had occupied the same room, and Caponcss said ho last spoke to her at a quarter past ten on the previous night. Witness and his wife had not lived very happily owing to his attachment for a young girl. Capeness said his wife was a sleep-walker, and 'he believed that it was this that had oaused her death. His wife had often requested him to give the girl up, and ho had tried, but had found the attraction too great. The girl had accompanied witness and his wife, at the wife's request, on a holiday trip to Tasmania last Christmas. The medical evidence was to tho effect that there were no signs of injuries that could not bo oaused by a fall.