Pipiroa Murder

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1922, Page 4

Pipiroa Murder

PACK BEFORE THE COURT. [n y rr.i.Eoi'.Aru —rim chess association] AUCK LAND, -May 10. Arthur William Page pleaded not guilty at the Supreme Court to-day to i lie murder at Ihpiroa on February it of Gladys Hute .inson, wife of George Hutchinson, a farmer. Mr Meredith. Crown Prosecutor, outlined the details of the charge, stating that Mrs Hutchinson, who had been married for 16 years had three children and had been living with Page. On the day of the tragedy Page received a bottle of whisky and as a go d de-1 of evidence revolved on the disposal-of this bottle it would lie suggested that Page was drunk at the time of the murder. Air Aleredi.'V, ox--1 laitied how it was drunk, saving several men had 'drunk from it and one witness saw seven participants in it. II was (piite clear that there was insufficient Whisky left ill the bottle to do Page a great deal of harm. Evident e would also be bailed that Page visited a neighbouring whare about lunch time. There was a gun and some cnilridges there, which Page apparently took and then returned to his own Whare. Soon afterwards Page was observed leaving the whare behind Mrs Hutchinson. Tie was carrying the gun. A witness heard a stream and saw Mrs Hutchinson fall. Page tlieii discharged the gun into his breast and fell. Eventually neighbours and the witness surrounded Pago, who, questioned why he shot the woman, said: “Oh; too milch whiskv !”

VERDICT or MANSLAUGHTER AUCKLAND. May 10

A verdict of manslaughter was returned in tile case in which Arthur William Page, aged 30 was charged with the murder of Gladys McGregor Hi tchibsoh, iit VipiVoa on February

No evidence was called for the accused. Air Garland, for accused, addressing the jury, ssi.l the ae. used never denied silo. Prig Airs Hutchinson, but in murder, invent was necessary to he guilty of homicide, but not culpable liomicide. the Crown had suggested two motives, jealousy and the refusal of Airs Hutchinson to go to Court, and say she had supplied liquor to Hutchinson: Counsel submitted the wpmrih Yvas not returning to tier liiisbniid, hut that Page was going to Thames with her. Page’s attitude was not that of a jealous man. It was probable lje shot the woman in a iriomcnt of insanity whonlie wouldn’t lie responsible for the h'rins'cqiieriees of the act, and in such circumstances the jury couldn’t find him guilty of murder.

The Judge in slimming up, said the chly question for the jury was whether oi- riot tlie crime was one of culpable h'omicide, and, if so, was It srieh ns to justify a verdict of murder or one of manslaughter. It was suggested by Counsel that accused was insane at the time hut such evidence ns insanity was open to question oil facts and lie saw no ehidcrice Whnt’eVer that would justify a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity. There was the view that, al-

. ..ongh not drunk accused was undei the influence of liquor and was incapable of controlling himself, and having tlie gun loaded, and on ail impulse of the moment, used th'e grin. That was a view the jury would ho quite justified in taking.

Tlie jury deliberated Tor 2J hours.

Sentence was deferred till the morniiig.