SENTENCED TO DEATH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2211, 4 December 1920, Page 2

SENTENCED TO DEATH.

thorn; pound guilty

Auckland, Yesterday. . The trial of Samuel John Thorn, farm hand, on the chnr>>’e I lint "on August 24th ho murdered 1 Sidney Seymour Eyre, settlor, of I’ukekaWit, was concluded to-day, lie fore Mr Justice Chapman, at the Supreme Court. The jury retired at 4.20 p.m., and returned at 8.20 p.m. The court was then crowded, and the prisoner, who appeared’ pale, eagerly scanned I lie jury, and then folded his arms. The foreman announced that the verdict was “Guilty.” ■ His Honour asked if accused had anything to say, and Mr Singer, in>>', replied for the accused, that, in view of the penally His Honour was hound to impose, he did not see that anything could lie said. THU DEATH SENTENCE. Addressing the prisoner, the jmlye said he had been found jruilty hy a jury of his countrymen, who* had pivcn the most careful consideration to the ease. That the evidence had proved his o-uilt was the judge’s linn conviction. Crisoner had been defended with exceptional ability, and the police and authorities hud shown him every consideration. His Honour (lien passed sentence of deal it, till’d (he prisoner, who had remained calm throu<i;lioal, turned and left I lie dock.

JUDGE’S REMARKS TO JURY. Addcssing Hu* jury, ilit' judge said he absolutely and entirely unproved ol’ their verdiet. He paid a tribute to the poliee. especially - )( '- leelive-Sergeant Uummings, and he wished to say thal, whatever might he felt: regarding thal unfortunate woman, Mrs Eyre, he was perfectly satisfied that she had appeared in court an absolutely unbiased and truthful witness, and had given her evidence with the utmost sincerity.