THE WAIRONGOMAI MURDERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3195, 20 September 1917, Page 5

THE WAIRONGOMAI MURDERS

I'EANK INKSTER ACQUITTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, September lfl.. Mr. Justice Soaking tin's morning delivered a lengthy summing up in the case in .which Frank Inkstur, alias Edward Clayton, aged l?i years, 16 charged with murdering 01c Anderson and Harvey Bradley, lit Wairongoinai, on July 22. His Honour said the jury had to be satisfied whether murder had been committed, and, if so, if accused was the guilty person. It was for tho Crown to establish its case, not for the prisoner to establish his innocence. The conclusion originally arrived at, that it was a cusp of murder and suicido, had resulted through there not being that thorough investigation one would expect in a case of murder. In murder cases they usually bad to rely on circumstantial evidence. The prisoner, so far as was known, \\as the fast person seen with tho two deceased, and according to bis statement be came down to get a pack-horse for Anderson. There was nothing belonging fc> the deceased found on accused, and it was on his subsequent conduct I hey 'were asked to judgo tho case. His Honour closely reviewed tho evidence as to accused's demeanour, and also dealt with the question of motive. After half an hour's retirement the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty.