THE SHOCKING MURDER IN NORTH DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 941, 30 April 1880, Page 3

THE SHOCKING MURDER IN NORTH DUNEDIN.

Robert Butler, who pleaded guilty to the burglary at Mr Stamper’s residence, was sentenced to 18 years penal servitude. On the charge of larceny—the stealing of three books, the property of the Right Rev. P. Moran -he was sentenced to eight years. These sentences will runconcurrently, therefore the time of his sentence will be 18 years. With regard to ulterior proceedings in the Dewar murder case, the following statement we extract from the Daily Times The Crown prosecutor, Mr B. C. Haggitt, yesterday received a telegram from the Minister of Justice (the Hon. Mr Rolleston) re the indictments for murder against Robert Butler. The telegram stated that the Minister is of opinion, after careful consideration, that under the circumstances it would be advisable to enter a nolle prosegui in tbe case, reserving the right to prefer a fresh indictment at the next sitting of the Court, should the discovery of further evidence reader such a course advisable. We understand that the knife which was found outside Dewar's house, aud which, according to the [theory of the prosecution, was used for the purpose of opening the sitting-room window, has been identified as the property of Mr Baxter, of the Pier Hotel. It was missed from the hotel on Monday morning following the murder, and is believed to have been in use on the previous Saturday. The facts in connection with it point to its having been stolen, but so far as we have been able to ascertain there is nothing to show by whom. A fresh circumstance regarding the whereabouts of Butler between the Saturday night and Sunday morning has also came to light within the part day or two. A young lad going home on Sunday morning about

half past 1 o’clock saw a man standing opposite Dewar’s house ; and this land has, we understand, indentified Butler as being the man he saw.