SHUTES GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2807, 6 November 1924, Page 2

SHUTES GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER.

Aucklaml, Yesterday. The trial of Benjamin Harris Slnite.s, who was charged with the murder of Reginald Louis Short on the night of October 1.0, at the Aurora Hotel was continued at the Supreme Court to-day. Oa the conclusion of the Crown’s case, Mr McVeagh, counsel for the accused, said he did not propose to call evidence. He addressed the jury and said there were three views they might take. That the act was done in self-defence, that it was purely accidental and that it was committed under provocation. Mr MoVeagh proceeded to discuss the value of the statement made by the accused to the police voluntarily within 24 hours of the tragedy and before the accused knew the details of the evidence to be used against him. His statement was to the effect that it was merely a coincidence that he (Shales) had a knife in his hand when he met Short in the hotel passage, that deceased struck him a heavy blow and that he (Shiites) had thrown out his hands and cut Short with the knife. The jury found Shiites guilty of manslaughter. Prisoner will he sentenced on November 12th. The jury returned a rider that in it-, opinion, the facility with which drink was obtainable after hours was largely responsible for the crime under review

His Honour said the rider would be handed to the police.