CLOSE OF THE TRIAL.

Grey River Argus, Issue 109, 22 September 1866, Page 3

CLOSE OF THE TRIAL.

burgess, kelly, and levy • condemned to death for Aatjngatapu murders. y TRIAL OF SULLIVAN' FOR THE MURDER OF BATTLE. SENTENCE OF DEATH PASSED. [By Electric Telegraph.] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) ? CmusTCHUitCH, Friday. The trial of the prisoners Burgess, Levy, and Kelly for the Maungatapu murders was resumed at Nelson on the 18th. The Court opened at nine a.m., and was soon densely crowded, many ladies beiug present. The Judge occupied seven hours in summing up the evidence, The Jury retired, at half-past four o'clock, aud after an hour's deliberation returned into Court with a verdict of "Guilty " 'against the three prisoners ./Burgess, Levy, and Keliy, Dead silence prevailed in Court while the Registrar put the question to the ; Foreman of the Jury against each prisoner seperately, ancl while the replies were being made, - The Judge then,asked each prisoner seperately whether they had anything to say in point of law why sentence of death should not be passed upon them. Kelly made many abject appeals, and endeavored to explain many of the facts. 'of the case, vehemently protesting his innocence, said the Judge did not charge the Jury correctly when Ue said that Sullivan's evident had been corroborated by everything being fo.und exactly as he had described, and was going ou. .:■ to discuss the evidence when the Judge, . / who had tolerated him. a long time, at last, stopped him ;. but he began again, saying — " Won't you: allow -nie to speak?" The Judge : No longer, jf^elly : Qt bad ; \& me speak, Nbbody will be sorry for my death ; I leave no one behind me, stiU I ought not to die wrongly. The Judge' then addressed each prisoner seperately, and passed sentence of death cm. each., After sentence was passed on Burgess liq bpwed his- head, and said "I accept my sentence with humility," seemed to be completely ovei> powered and presented a* most ftbjfic^ ■ appearance He said nothing. Levy said — " lam happy to. inform you that in my own mind and h,eai-t, and by the God I worship, I leave this bar an innocent man." The J, vidge at once remarked—" You have no right to say so ; such a state^ ment can make no impression on me, nor should it on the j['\ry or public." The prisoners were then removed, and adjourned.