The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1895. THE WAIRARAPA MURDER.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 40, 15 August 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1895. THE WAIRARAPA MURDER.

It has o'ten been remarked by critical observers that in all cases where murder has been committed there is always extended more sympathy to the murderer than pity for his victim. No matter what may be tho surroundings of the crime, or how horrible the details, it makes no difference in the fact. Many people, perhaps without putting the idea iv de&nite language even to themselves, have an impression that the person murdered was in some greater or lesser degree the author of his own fate by indirect, if not direct, provocation, and "It served him right." The case of fc'omerville is no exception to the rule, and to it in some degree ! he owes his acquittal. Before the case came on for trial, there was floating about in the miods of a large number of people that Romerville had suffered wrong at the hands of Herbert and tho former had been worried into madness. This knowledge was cleverly taken advantage of iv tho defence and suceeded even t-eyond expectation of counsel. We notice that a question of the justness of tho verdict has been raised in Parliament, but, beyond a lot of useless discussion, we do note xpect the position will bo changed. In our opinion the jury gave their verdict in good faith, being largely helped by the expert medical evidence, and the appearance of the criminal who stood before them. The people do uot sympathise with Somervile the murderer, but with SomerviUe tho madman. What drove him mad has nothing to do with the subject as it now stands.