TRIAL OF THE WAIKAWA MURDERER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 834, 16 December 1878, Page 2

TRIAL OF THE WAIKAWA MURDERER.

[per press agency.] Inveroakgill, Dec. 14.

The trial of "Welsh, for the murder of his wife, was resumed this morning, when witnesses in addition to those examined yesterday, were put in the box. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. M'Donald) then addressed the jury for an hour, contending fiiat the Hypothesis that the woman committed suicide, was untenable. They could come to 110 conclusion but thai the deceased had come by her death by the hands, of Welsh, and that the offence was .■murder. Mr. Wade addressed the Court for the defence for an hour" and a half. He contended that the woman either committed suicide, or had been murdered by a third person not discovered, and that accused had fled into the bush.through fear that he should be convicted of the crime. The Court then adjourned, and his Honor began his summing up about 3 p.m. Later. The murder case is finished. The judge summed up exhaustively and with extreme impartiality. His deliverance occupied two houi-s.. The jury retired, and within lialf-an-hour returned with a verdict of guilty. The prisoner's demeanor was impassive, and when asked if lie had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed on him, he ■muttered almost inaudibly that he knew nothing about it. He kept his eyes steadily fixed on the judge, and did not 'display the slightest agitation when the sentence was passed. The judge was much affected. His hands - shook when he ■placed the fatal cap on his head, and with tremulous voice'he addressed the prisoner. :He said he had had a long and fair trial, and was convicted by a jury of his .countrymen, and with that verdict he, the judge, thoroughly concurred.. He then isentenced'him to death in the usual form. ;The verdict is regarded as righteous by j [everyone here.