TRIAL FOR MURDER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2558, 2 June 1881, Page 2

TRIAL FOR MURDER.

At the Central Criminal Court, Melbourne, on May 17, before Mr Justice Stephen, John Dixon was charged with having wilfully murdered one Margaret Jane Thompson. Mr Purves appeared for the prisoner. Dixon was a master sweep, living in a lane off Little Bourke street East, and had beaten the woman Thompson till she died, leaving her naked on the floor, and throwing buckets of water over her. After the evidence had been taken, and counsel had addressed the Jury, his Honor summed up, and concluded by reading over his notes of the evidence, and repeating that the offence was only manslaughter,and not murder,

if the act was done in a passion and when the prisoner had not time to pet cool. The evidence showed that the struggle must have lasted a considerable time—how long was not very clear, but at least about 20 minutes ; and Dr Hardy’s evidence was that the death must have been caused by repeated blows. The Jury after 20 minutes’ deliberation, returned a verdict of manslaughter. The prisoner said he left himself to the Court. His Honor in passing sentence, said that this was a very bad case indeed. The.prisoner had been in great peril of his life, but the merciful view the Jury had taken of his case had saved his, life. He did not at all say the Jury were wrong, as the case was one entirely for them. In his opinion, however, the case was a very bad one. The assault on this unfortunate woman was continued, and was brutal in the extreme, and there could hardly be a worse case of manslaughter. The sentence was 15 years’ hard labor.