Shortest Murder Trial.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 207, 5 September 1904, Page 4

Shortest Murder Trial.

PRISONER GRATEFUL FOR SENTENCE OF DEATH. There was a dramatic end to a trial at Durham Assizes, when Goorgie Breeze, a youn|g Sda|h,alin Harbour miner, was indicted for tho murder of Mojgaret Chisholm, a married woman, at whose house he lodged. The husbandi left home early, leaving his wife and Breeze at home. Later an tlhe day tlnfe woman was found dead in bed, having been stran-| gltd, and Breeze gave himself up to the police, admitting his guilt. Breeze, a well-built man 0 f twenty, refused the assistance of counsel assigned him by Mr Justice Grantham, and pleaded guilty. The Jury, after hearing medical evidence, found that he was fit ti plead. Asked by Mr Justic Grantham if he "wished to say anything, prisoner §add, "I am ready to die at any moment. lam not sorry for what I have done."

His Lordslbip : You stall say you are guilty ? The prisoner : Yes, qjuito guilty. His Lordship : Y r ou don't wont to be defended ? The prisoner : No. In answer to the Clerk of Arraigns, prisoner said, "I have nothing to say. I am ready to die at any moment, if you have mind to pass sentence of death upon mo. It is no use being sorry when the thing is dome."

His Lordship then passed sentence of death, and Breeze answered, smiling, "I thank you very much. I hope there will be no reprieve."

Perhaps ono of the most extraordinary features of this remarkaiblo case (says a Home paper) lies inthe tact that it Is the shortest murder trial ending in a death sentence on record. Prisoners arraigned on a cachargfe rarely plead guilty. When they do it ia usual for them to be quietly persuaded to withdraw the plea so far as murder is concerned, though they not uncommonly persist in pleading guilty to manslaughter. Fjdwin Edwards, tKe Cnmberwell murderer, somewhat astonished the c o urt on his arraignment 'by pleading guilty to murder ; but it was merely a verbal lapse which he corrected after a little help from the Clerk of Arraigns. It is diiiieult to recall a singje murder trial at the Old Bailey of late years where a judge lias accepted a plea of guilty and proceeded t pass sentence of death.