THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” (Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1865.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22987, 16 September 1936, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” (Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1865.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

William Andrew Jarvey has been convicted of murder and sentenced to death, after a trial conducted on the part of the Crown with rare moderation, and characterised throughout by the most painful and anxious regard to the strictest requirements of justice. If on this occasion there was no undue leaning towards the prisoner manifested by the Bench;. no attempt to brow beat and discredit the witnesses for the prosecution| it must be admitted that neither was there any effort to press the case unduly against the accused. . . .

William Andrew Jarvey has been con victed of poisoning his wife; and he has been sentenced to death. The prisoner, after being removed from Court on Thursday evening, in consequence of his having fainted, soon rallied, and we understand that he attributed the attack partly to the heat of the Court, but mainlj to his having caught sight of his two sons Andrew and England, looking intently at him. When placed in the dock yesterday morning, the prisoner wa3 very pale; but he maintained his calmness during the continuation of Mr Justice Richmond's charge, although he must have felt that the concluding portion of His Honor's remarks was calculated to tell strongly against him During the four hours the jury were out of court, the prisoner was removed to the Gaol; and when brought bacK on the return of the jury, he walked as steadily, and seemed as collected, as at any time during the progress of the trial. He heard, without showing sign of emotion, the fatal 'Guilty pronounced by the Foreman, and he addressed the Court for some time, firmly, but without anything like bravado. He wept several times, but speedily recovered himself. In substance, the prisoner declared and reiterated that he was innocent; that Elizabeth Ann Jarvey was not his daughter and not his wife's; that Miss Little did not deserve the stigma cast upon her; and that he forgave all who had assisted to "work his destruction." The Judge, in passing sentence, declared that his mind was wholly unaffected by anything which the prisoner had said; that he was satisfied that the verdict wns a most righteous one; that he regarded the address to the Court as only adding hypocrisy to crime; and that the crime for which the prisoner was being sentenced was one of the worst conceivable aggravations of the most cruel and treacherous forms of murder. The prisoner showed no marked feeling during the sentence. The Court was crowded during the day, and a large crowd of persons remained outside to learn the verdict, despite the heavy rain.

At a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held yesterday afternoon, two important matters weie brought on for discussion. The first was a motion by Mr John Bathgate, asking "the appointment of a committee to enquire and report .on the laws regulating the currency in New Zealand, with a view to remedying any defect which may exist." ".was seconded pro forma by Mr J. S Webb, but was withdrawn. The second matter was a motion by Mr Toimie, and seconded by Mr Robertson, That it is desirable that the immigration ot Chinese to this Province be en couraged." This was carried as also was a contingent motion appointing a Committee to wait upon the Government and " urge the Executive to give an official letter or notice, to the effect that the lives and property of all Chinese coming to this Province would be protected." The only dissentient from these motions was Mr John Bathgate.

Mr Warden Aylmer, in his report from Mount Bender, of the 9ch September, says:—" Forbes and party, at the Island, have averaged Ll4B 10s per week for 8 men, during the past, three weeks. Rate of wages in this district:—Men in charge of sluice boxes, L 4 per week; good workmen, L 3 12s per week ; farm servants, 30s per week and found. Cost of provisions:—Meat, 7d to 8d per lb: bread, 2s 4d per loaf; butter 2s 6d per lb; sugar, 8d per lb; tea, 3s per lb; potatoes. LlO per ton: oats, 7s per bushel; chaff, Ll 4 per ton. Population : 500 miners : others. 200.