THE CHRISTCHURCH MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 24 December 1907, Page 3

THE CHRISTCHURCH MURDER.

•Hans Wilson, who on November 13th murdered his wife at Addington, and then attempted to commit suicide, was brought before Mr H. Bishop, S.M., at Christchurch on Friday, on a charge of wilful murder. Since the crime was committed Wilson had been in the hospital recovering from his selfinflicted wounds, and when he appeared in Court he vyas apparently a physical wreck, and had to sit down. Wilson was, some lime before the murder, released from Sunnyside, where he had been committed as a lunatic, on account of his having previously attempted to kill his wife, and a great deal of nterest has been taken in the question whether his previous committal a as lunatic affected his position when charged with the second crime. Mr T. W. Stringer, K.C., appeared for the Crown. The Magistrate said that the circumstances were pecular, because the accused had been committed as. a lunatic prisoner, and was subsequently allowed out for a year’s.' probation, on the recommendation of the Medical Superintendant. Such a proceeding was quite irregular, not being provided lor by legislation. The mm was not only dejure, but de facto, a lunatic still. Mr Stringer said that the Criminal Code provided for such a case, because a man who committed a crime was to be presumed sane till he was proved a lunatic. , Mr Bishop said that as teh man was ptima facie a lunatic, the depositions should contain a history of the case. Mr Stringer sa id that no matter how insane the man was, or whether he was committed to the asylum before or after the crime, he was still liable to be tried for the murder. His Worship: Of course, in this case it. is a mere farce. Mr Stringer: Yes, but in other circumstances it might be quite other than a farce. Evidence was then given similar to that tendered at the inquest; and the accused was committed for trial, no application being made for bail.