LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1108, 19 April 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[united press ASSOCIATION.]

Dunedin, April 17. The trial of Butler for murder was continued at the Supreme Court to-day. The Court was packed, and also a large crowd outside. The prisoner, who did not call any witnesses, at'once entered upon his defence, and spoke for six hours in clear, firm voice, occasionally pausing to consult his notesi He criticised the evidence closely, and contended that nothing had been brought forward by the Crown to connect him with the murder. He explained his attempt at escape from Dunedin by the fact that he believed the police were going to arrest him for Burglary, and that he was under police surveillance on the night of the murder, He affirmed that he was more than half drunk and away from the scene of it. The Judge's summing up was in favor of the prisoner. The jury retired shortly after 6 p.m.

At five minutes past nine, the jury in Butler,s case returned a Verdict of “ not guilty,” The prisoner displayed no emotion, and said nothing. The Court was packed, and the immense crowd outsids booted on hearing the verdict, and also hooted prisoner. No mention was made of a noli i prosequi in the other cases, and the prisoner will be proceeded against on the charge of murdering Dewar’s wife. Timaru, April 16. The Dunedin settlers along the railway line are complaining bitterly of the destruction to live stock by trains owing to the line being unfenced. Two valuable horses were killed near Termika this morning by the train, and hardly a day passes, bat what some animals is crushed on the line.

A deliberate attempt at suicide was made early this morning by a' prisoner in the Timaru lock-up. Geo. Gustav Schmidt was brought up yesterday bn a charge of obtaining goods by false pretences from a Christchurch jeweller of the name of Grossman, to whom he represented that ‘he was possessed of property in this district. He was remanded to Christchurch. On the constable visiting his cell this morning shortly after, he was found lying in a pool of- blood on the floor in a weak state from loss of blood. The sufferer was removed to the hospital, where he lies in a very precariouo state. The injury was inflicted with a small pocket knife, which he must have secreted about his, person,. as he was searched without the knife beingf discovered. The only motive suppested for the act was that Schmidt has been suffering for years from asthma, which was unusually painful yesterday, and it is supposed that he attempted his life in a lit of desperation.

Nelson, April 17. At a public meeting last night there was a crowded attendance, and Messrs Bunny and Pitt were present. The latter read some correspondence between Adams and himself, and the former gave evidence of his conduct re proceedings against Acton Adams. Amongst the resolutions passed was one that the evidence in the case be laid before the Minister of Justice, and that Acton Adams be requested to resign his seat in the House.