WILSON’S MURDERERS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1922, Page 1

WILSON’S MURDERERS

PRISONERS ADMIT SIiOOIING

WILSON

HI STHAI.IAN AND N.Z. CAHI.K ASSOCIATION

LONDON, July 18

u the trial of Dunn and O’Sullivan when they were asked how they would plead, both answered: “I admit shooting Sii Henry Wilson.” Judge Shearman said he would tica that as a plea of “not guilty.” The men ate of a very different type O’Sullivan lias a fresh complexion, and an open forehead, while Dunn has a low forehead, rough hair, colourless eyes, and hard mouth. The Attorney-General in opening the prosecution, asked the judge to permit all the witnesses to he called by numbers instead of by their names. The judge: “That is rather unusu-

The Attorney-General: “There is a valid reason. An assurance has been given to tho witnesses that their names will not be given in the open court.”

The judge: “That alters matters,

The witnesses gave evidence similar to that in the Police Court proceedings, and described tlie tragedy. The opening of the defence was sensational. Mr Artemis Jones asked that Dunn he allowed to read his statement to the Jury from the dock before the Counsel addressed the Court. The statement was first handed to Justice Shearman. The judge said it was “a political manifesto, justifying the right to kill; was merely anarchist propaganda; and he could not allow the Court to he used for such a purpose.” Ho said Dunn could give evidence.

An argument arose over this between tho judge and tho defending counsel. Tlie counsel stated that in view of the judge’s altitude, tho prisoners had instructed counsel to withdraw from the case.

The judge then said: “The prisoners have now’ placed themselves in tlie position of undefended prisoners.” Ho must treat them accordingly. After tho verdict of guilty had boon returned, Dunn spoke, lie said lie was proudly conscious of being an Irishman. It is motive for killing Wilson was no different from those motives animating the men who fought in tlie European war.

"1 am no mean assassin,” he added "1 received no money for Ibis business.”

Dunn asked that his sentence he postponed for fourteen days, "in order that his motives might he judged by a Court of Arbitration, motives which dealt with lights and wrongs that had rid the human world of a scourge.” O’Sullivan, folding his arms, exclaimed, in a loud voice: “What 1 have done, f have done for Ireland ; and for Ireland, T am proud to die!” Dunn tin'll clasped O’Sullivan in a farewell, while they were being removed from the dock.