BAND OF HOPE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 216, 8 October 1903, Page 4

BAND OF HOPE.

(Communicated.) The usual monthly meeting of the Whiteley Band of Hope was held on Monday evening. The programme for the evening was a sitting of the Supreme Court. The Court eat at 7.30 p.m. The Rev. J. Buttle was the Judge, Mr A. Pibett counsel for the prosecution, Mr J. Christopher counsel for the defence. Alcohol was the prisoner at the bar, represented by a whisky bottle, charged with robbery and murder. On the Olerk of the Court (Mr S. E. Hulbert) asking prisoner to plead, his counsel pleaded a Not Guilty," which necessitated forming a jury. Twelve good men and true were forthwith empanelled, of whom Mr W. Ambury was chosen foreman. The case then proceeded, the Judge charged the jury, the prosecuting counsel outlined the case for the prosecution, and the following witnesses were examined and re-examined for the prosecution Constable Jas. Keith, Messrs F.- Morshead, W. Hayward, John Clark, Victor Griffiths, and for the defence Mr J. A. Roberts. Mr J. Christopher then addressed the jury on behalf of prisoner, Mr Piketi replied, and the Judge summed up. After due deliberation the jury returned a verdict of " Quilty " on all charges, and prisoner wss .sentenced by the Judge to suffer the extreme psnalty of the law. He was then publicly excuted by having his neck broken by the Court orderly, Mr W. H. Shiptjori, and the proceedings terminated with a verse of " Good Save the King." In spite of the bad weather a large audience was present, and the conduct of the case by th 6 counsel called for much praise, espsciclly their addresses to the jury after the evidence.