STARTLING REVIVAL OF AN OLD SENSATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 9 August 1901, Page 4

STARTLING REVIVAL OF AN OLD SENSATION.

JL Life Conyiot Gonfassas to a

Harder.

The Pain Mystery Cleared Up.

Bobsrt Dougla?, a young man whoso appearance floes not suggest his age to ba trior* than 26 years, confessed some time last month to the gaoler at Lyttolton that hfe had murdered Susannah Fain, a married woman of abrut 45 years, who was on Sunday, 23rd of October, 1898, found dead lying face downward in a shallow part of a ■'ream at Mikimiki, in the Masfcorton clistrlri. At the time of Mrs Pain's death Dougla< sfat'd that on the after.ioou of Saturday 22iiil October, ho went out on tho hills with the woman, who lived on her proparty at Mikimiki. It seams that they engaged in rabbitting and fishing,- and according to his story she then went off in aaoth r direction. On tho Sunday afternoon deceased's son found her body as stated. She was subject to fits, and it was oinohided that this led to her drowning. This wa* tho effect of the verdict at the time of th.o inquest. Dr But. man's testimony wa3 that death was due to asphyxia bv drowning. Ground of the Life Sentence. On 10th January, 1899, tho daughter of a settler at Upper Opaki, about 14 miles from Masterton, was outraged under circumstances of peculiar brutality. Douglas was convicted of .the crime, and |

was remanded by Mr Justice Edwards to test his sanity. Teare, gaol surgeon, stated that he had come to the conclusion, after several interviews with Douglas; that the latter was a person of low mental organisation. He had only seen one item as to prisoner's family history—in a letter from Mr Pownall—and it certainly wis very suggestive. Prisoner might be of the same class as the man who at Ambcrley committed a criminal offence on a girl and then murdered her. _ Giving evidence at the same trial, Dr. Hassell stated that Douglas was intellectually below par, but there were no indications of insane illusions, and witness certainly saw nothing during h's interview with Douglas to warrant his being committed to an asylum as insane. From various sources witness was informed that Douglas's father had strong and ungovernable sensual passions, and the prisoner's condition was hereditary. Scathing Remarks by the Judge. Probably for the first time in the history of crime in New Zealand, Mr Justice Edwards imposed imprisonment for life on a man found guilty of a criminal offence on a woman. In doing so, he Ba id : —"Beyond all doubt the offence you have committed is the gravest and most wicked that can be committed, short of murder—if indeed, it falls short of that. Indeed, I have little doubt that you did intend to murder the unhappy girl, and that you thought you had done so. When you throw her body over the bank, and helped it with a parting kick, you thought you had deprived her of life, and rendered it impossible for her to give testimony against you. Whether that be so or not, the crime is a crime of the deepest gravity, committed with the grossest and mist wilful brutality on a young girl who up to that time was a virgin, and little more than a child. It would be an insult to the brute creation to call such as you a brute, for brutes do not commit such acts as these. If I could find it consistent with my duty ta sentence you to something short of imprisonment for lifo I should have in- ■ flicted upon you the most severe punishment that can be inflicted—flogging up to the fall measure allowed by law. But, inasmuch as I intend, as far as in me lies, to render it impossible for you to again commit such an outrage in the future, I shall remit that punishment—not because you don't de-erve it, but because the law seeks not revenge, but the punishment and prevention of crime in future. The sentenco of the Court is that you be imprisoned for the term of your natural life," Douglas, who remained passive, was then removed. Exhumation of Mrs Pain's body. The above sentence was passed on 17th February, 1899, and on the morning of 25th February, the body of Mrs Pain was exhumed. The facts and subsequent events had connected Douglas with the woman's death, and Dr Teare was ordered to report to the Justice Department. . A Press Assocation message from Masterton of that date states '. — il The doctor who examined the woman here before the inquest and the local police are confident that there is no foundation for the statement made." The ikull was removed from the body, and was examined by Drs Teare and Butmiont. A sensational story to the effect that a bul-det-hola would be found was not borne, out. Keports published at the time state that "a faint bruise was discovered on the front portion of the head, which might have been caused in a fit." Apparently, this explanation was again Departmentally accepted, for noting further occurred Self-accusation unless supported by' circumstances, is not proof of guilt, but in view of the facts the case must be re-opened. Accused now stands charged with murder. The locality is to be surveyed, and the case will be extensively investigated.