THE PAIN MURDER CASE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 August 1901, Page 4

THE PAIN MURDER CASE.

Prisoner Found “ Not Guilty.” (per press association.) Wellington, Aug. 19. The trial of Eobert Douglas for the murder of Mrs Pain, at Mikimiki, began before the Chief Justice to-day. The evidence was similar to that in the Magistrate’s Court, save that the spot where the deceased’s slipper was picked up is now identified as different from that formerly stated. From the new spot the body could roll down into the creek, but not to where Mrs Pain’s body was found. The evidence tendered at the trial of Douglas was similar to that adduced in the lower court, and at the inquest on deceased no evidence was offered by the defence. In his address to the jury the Crown prosecutor said that there would have been a very grave failure of justice if, after prisoner had made his confession, the case had not boon placed before a jury. Ho contended that there were many grave circumstances connecting Douglas with the death of Mrs Pain, apart from his own testimony to the gaoler at Lyttelton. The counsel for the prisoner described the latter’s confession as a hysterical accusation of one in whom hope was dead and who desired that any change, even though it might be from a prison to a lunatic asylum. Ho combatted the accusation of murder, and pointed to various possibilities in the way of accidental death.

The Chief Justice, in summing up, said there was no evidence that the prisoner was insane on the day Mrs Pain mot her death. His Honor specially mentioned the following statement made by the prisoner at the inquest:—“ The last I saw of deceased she was going to Ashby’s fence,’’ and pointed out that such a course was directly opposite to one which would have taken her to the place where the body was found.

The jury returned a verdict of “ not guilty ” and the prisoner w T as remanded to his former custody.