TIMARU MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1921, Page 3

TIMARU MURDER

CABINET AND THE VERDICT. CHRISTCHURCH. Eeh. 16 ] The sentence of death passed on Reginald Matthews, the Tiniaru murdered, by Mr Justice Herdman, must he submitted to the Minister ot Justice, who in turn submits it to the execu- ’ tive, whose finding is referred to the 1 Governor-General for confirmation. Under usual circumstances, th e man ’ condemned to death, if His sentence is upheld, is hanged seven days after the Governor-General’s pronouncement. An official of considerable standing in the Prisons Department, held out little “ hope for any reprieve for Matthews, though, of course, he could not say upon which course ( abinet would decide. He remarked, hawever, that as Ihe jury had, as it were, “blown out the insanity theory, it was unlikely that Cabinet would reverse that decision. Questioned on the subject, the Prime Minister (Mr W. E.*.Massey) acknowledged that lie was not quite sure as to the actual procedure in the ease of a capital sentence. Of course, lie said, the Executive would consider the sentence, hut had there been any immediate appeal against the death sentence imposed on Matthews he thought tint he himself would 'have been summoned t„ a meeting of Cabinet in Wellington. So far, no such notice had been received.