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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 110, 11 May 1877, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle gives the following account of the closing scene of the Turakina arson case: — Franics Farrell O'Riley and John Le9ter, who were found guilty of arson the previous day, were brought up to receive sentence. On the prisoner O'Riley, who appeared deeply affected, being asked if he had anything to say why the sentence of the Court ehould not be passed upon him, the replied in the affirmative, and spoke as follows: — I have been over 30 years in the colodv, and during tbat period I have lived in Wellington, Wanganui, and Turakina. lam well knowD, and I have never been convicted of any crime before. lam not guilty of the crime for which lam now going to suffer. I have been 10 years in public business., and have never wronged anybody. I have a wife nnd 10 children. I trust the Court will deal leniently with me. I will most willingly submit to my punishment, but I earnestly trust that the public will never cast up to my poor wife and children the crime for which I am now goiDg innocently to suffer. On the prisoner Lester being asked if he had anything to say, be said.— -1 have been over 30 years in New Zealand, and have never been punished for any crime, nor have I committed the smallest crime before. [ trust the Court will deal leniently with me. His Honor said:*— Prisoners at the bar — In committing thiß grave crime you were not divided, and the punishment you have merited thereby shall not be divided. The crime is an outrageous one, and your actions have been extremely foolißb. lam certain that you would not fiud one savage native up

the river that would act as you have done. The off e oca is one of great danger tp the public and should be put down with a heavy punishment. It appears that you committed the crime, in order to gratify your vindictive passions. In taking into consideration that you are both men in advanced years, I will be more lenient in my sentence than if you were men in full health and vigor. No doubt that during your incarceration you both will have repented, and that on the expiry of your sentence your passions will bave cooled down. One benefit of your seclusion will be that yon both will be kept from the intemperate habits which have brought you into this trouble. The sentence of the Court is that you will both be imprisoned in the common gaol at Wellington for the term of six years, with hard labor."