MANSLAUGHTER PENALTY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2428, 13 May 1922, Page 2

MANSLAUGHTER PENALTY

TWENTY YEARS’ HARD LABOUR I > Auckland, May 11. In sentencing Prige, who was found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the death of Gladys Hutchinson at Pipiroa, Mr Justice Stringer said: “In convicting yon of manslaughter rather than of the capital charge of murder, the jury adopted the most merciful view of the case reasonably open to them. They evidently thought that, having regard to the illicit relationship which existed between you and the unfortunate woman whose life you destroyed, it was probable, or at the least possible, that some quarrel had' taken place between you and her, and that you, inflamed with drink and having a gun in your hands, in sudden passion and without premeditation fired the fatal shot. The facts as proved before them would have justified the jury finding you guilty of murder, hr; in view of all the circumstances it was probably natural and reasonable that they -Itoulfl have adopted the more merciful course, which it was within their province to do. T cannot, however, regard the crime of which you have been convicted us other than Of a most callous and brutal character, divided only by a very thin partition from that of actual murder. Holding these views I do not think I should be doing my duty if 1 passed upon you less sentenced ban that you be imprisoned with bard labour for twenty years.”