THE AUCKLAND SENSATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 5 July 1901, Page 4

THE AUCKLAND SENSATION.

[per press association]

Auckland, July 4,

At tho Police Court this morning Dr John Wilkins was charged with that on or about the 17th of May, 1901, he did murder one, Mary O'Dowd. Mr T. A. Tole appeired for the prosecution and J. R. Reed for the defence.

Mr Tole said that he was instructed by tha Inspector of Police (who was anxious to dispose of the case as soon as possible) to ask for a remand until Monday next. Mr Reed said that he had no objection to a remand provided that bail was granted. He personally wa3 prepared to go on at once. His Worship said tint Mr Reed was not reasonable. Witnesses had tc be summoned.

Mr Reed went on to say, in reference t 3 the question of bail, that bdl had been granted in Melbourne on a murder charge. Mr Tole said that it was the practice in England not to grant bail in charges of murder.

His Woi ship granted an adjournment tiil Monday. In regard to bail, His Worship said that this was a somewhat difficult case to decide. He was not aware whether the practice was to refuse bad in cases of murder of this kind. It was somewhat different from the ordinary kind of murder charges. IE it was murder it was simply constructive murder, and it might turn out, as in the case of Regina v. Orpen, that the Judge might rule it was only manslaughter if it was anything. Taking the facts into con sideration, the fact that accused had E ractically been charged for some time, e thought that it would be proper to admit him to bail, but it would have to be very substantial. He asked Mr Tolo if he would name the sum he thought sufficient for bail. Mr Tole said that he would leave the amount to His Worship. His Worship then said that the bail would be—accused in £750 and two sureties oE £750.

Accused was subsequently released on bail.