Our Wellington Letter

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 15, 20 July 1889, Page 3

Our Wellington Letter

(fbom our own coreespondent.) Wellington, July 18. The verdict of " guilty," recorded in the case of Louis Chemis, has caused more excitement and comment in the city than even the news of the murder itself. At every street corner, and at every small gathering of people, may be heard continually the question, "Well l What do you think of the verdict ?" and in almost every case the reply comes back, " Though I think they have the right man, the evidence was not sufficient to convict." Throughout the trial the eyidence has been very keenly studied by the public, and the general opinion was expressed that the chain of circumstantial evidence was so incomplete that the prisoner was sure to get the benefit of the many doubts ; so that when the verdict was given it came like a thunder clap to the thousands who had been so anxiously waiting to hear the result of the week's deliberations of! the "twelve good r t men and true." When the yirclic^ was returned Mrs Chemis broke down completely, her cries being most heart rending, but the prisoner maintained his dogged sullenness to the bitter end, stoutly proclaiming his innocence. The petition which has been drawn up praying for the commutation of the sentence, is being largely signed, during the last, two days over 8000 signatures have been appended. The police have been very severly condemned for their dilatoriness in allowing three or four days to elapse before any arrest was made. Mr JeLlicoe is now interesting himself on behalf of the condemned man.

Much heartfelt sorrow and regret was expressed last evening when it became known that Mr Bunny, who only a few | days since so ably defended Chemis, was dead. The deceased gentleman had been unwell throughout the trial, but he stuck manfully to his post, and on Saturday afternoon made a most eloquent appeal to the jury on behalf of his client, his address lasting some hours ; at the conclusion Mr Bunny sank exhausted into his seat, he was assisted to his rooms at the Empire Hotel, where he took to his bed, a bed he never rose from. Yesterday afternoon's bulletin said that his case was not such as to cause anxiety. Alas ! Two hours later the grim messenger of death had visited his chamber and blotted out a young life just rising to fame. It is said that the news of Chemis conviction was kept from him, he being told, in answer to enquiries, that the jury had disagreed, so that it cannot have been the shock from that quarter that caused his death. Mr Bunny certainly played a heroic part ; whilst pleading for the life of his client his own was really on the ebb. The immediate cause of death was syncope from exhaustion of the vital forces.

There is nothing very startling on at the " Korerorium." Last evening one of the members threatened a stonewall on one of bills then before the house, but the Premier smiled grimly and made some reference to soon crushing that, evidently hinting at the cJoture. The Fisher-Gas-pariui correspondence is causing a little Btir. The Premier and " George " exchanged compliments very freely over it a few nights since, but taking the session all through good work is being done.