The Hokitika Murder

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 31, 15 March 1884, Page 3

The Hokitika Murder

fjPEB UNITED PEEBS ASSOCIATION.] Hokitika, March, 13. The case of murder against Donoghue was proceeded with to-day The jury retired at 520 and came into Court at 6.30 with a verdict of " Guilty." The prisoner, in answer to the usual question, said : "My Lord, lam innocent of the crime. Oh God, witness this murder about to take place, for I know I am to be sentenced to death. : I shall meet the jurymen who have found me guility above and then they will be able to say if I was guilty. lam a Roman Catholic, and' if all the priests and bishops came to console me I will tell them I am innocent. I am going to meet my God, and am not afraid to do so." Prisoner than said Constable Nash haA told the truth, but did not care about other * witnesses. He then -proceeded, " I shall go to my God, who alone knows I did not commit the murder. I have been 15 years in New Zealand, and defy any man to say I served .him & dirty trick. If ever I had any words with another man, I stripped and had it'-ontr and generally got a thrashing. \ I again' say ' 1 -am innocent. I suppose I have Only a short time to live'! I would not commit the crime; nor would I stand by -and • see another commit it. I will say that the j ury who have found me guilty' and the officials •who helped them- will 'not be lob» v after toe. J have more to say except : to' ask that what I i hav# Raid • may "be ' reBiemUered when I am -lying rotten in my grnve. I am-'inriocent'of'thf crimel Now, my Jjord,..ydu smay with your sentence," JHts; Honor then' assumed the the Jjlacfc- sea p, •' <and{. » passed ■ sentence of death in the usual form. The Court was ; •crowded -dur«g-the- day, and -intense interest was* n tak£ l n in .the : proceed ings. The a pji|<>ijer i „pceHerve.d ' v a ; ; , collected demeanor throughout, showing no sign .of

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