ST. CLAIR TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1929, Page 6

ST. CLAIR TRAGEDY

TRIAL OF BRAUMAN. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association). DUNEDIN, October 29. The St. Clair tragedy case was opened in the Supreme Court to-day, when William Henry Bra.um.an was charged with murdering his wife on the night of August 7tli last, A large jury panel had been summoned, about 65 an number, but no difficulty was experienced in selecting from tlxc first 20 names drawn from the box a company of twelve “good men and true,” and' the trial at once proceeded. The accused pleaded “Not guilty.” As the case is likely to take up a considerable time, the remaining jurors were discharged from attendance until Thursday morning. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr F. B. AdamsM in laying before the jury the case for the Crown, spoke for an hour and 20 minutes, and the. rest of the day was occupied with the hearing the evidence of witnesses, of whom about 30 will be called. By permission of his Honour, the accused is allowed to sit 'in the prisoner’s dock. As is usual in charges of. murder, the fury was kept together for the night, being provided with comfortable quarters' in a hotel in proximity to the Court. To-morrow further evidence ’ will be heard for the prosecution. The charge 'against Win. Henry Brahman was that of murdering ills wife, Arrabelle Dorothy Dean Brahman, at St. Clair, on August 7th. Accused was defended by ’Messrs White and Lloyd. He appeared recovered from his injuries, and pleaded not guilty in a steady voice." •

The Crown stood down: two jurors, and the defence made five, challenges. Mr Adams,. Crown Prosecutor, said the crime was a brutal, savage one, accused having shot her with a revolver placed against, her ear. He then attempted to commit suicide, but the jury need not consider that, because, it might he a-separate, charge. It was open to them on the indictment to find a.iVerdict of manslaughter, but the facts would offer no proper grounds for such action. . Mr Adams proceeded to say there was no provocation upon ..which the accused might have aeted on a sudden impulse. The evidence would show accused harboured a scheme in his mind, for some time. Jt was true that accused alleged his wife was acting ; improperly vfith another man at the .moment nut the fact was that the ,deceased had been out in a motor with '.two men and her. daughter. They, had just alighted, near St. Clair baths, , when the deed was done, arid nothing had occurred to which exception could Be taken. Accused said that his daughter cuddled one man and nis wMc the other, but that liras an Altertliough’t to give colour to the s-viggestioii that he had acted on the spur df the moment.

Proceeding, the Crown Prosecutor read a lengthy letter, Written hv Brauman at Invercargill, '’intimating his intention to kill him Self and his wife and blaming the nVfither-in-law for their separation. The address lasted 90 minutes, and at 1 ' the lunch adjournment, thq judge: 1 intimated that the jury would be kept together for the whole course of the trial.