WIFE MURDERER.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1922, Page 5

WIFE MURDERER.

ARMSTRONG FOUND GUILTY. SENTENCED TO DEATH. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 14, 5.5 p.m. London, April 13. Armstrong, a solicitor in a town in Wales, who was charged with the jjaurder of his wife by poisoning her, was found guilty and sentenced to death. Received April 13, 8.30 p.m. London, April 12. Medical experts for the defence expressed the opinion that Mrs. Arm* strong died of a big dose of arsenic, taken six day* before her death. Mr. Curtis Bennett, in his final speech, emphasised the- fact that the dead woman was just returned from an asylum; she suffered from delusions and could nc doubt have committed suicide. Received April 14, 11.5 p.m. London, April 13. Interest in the Armstrong case was maintained to the end. Mr. Justice Darling, in summing up, said the case was probably the most remarkable in living memory. He emphasised the value of circumstantial evidence, provided it was good. Regarding the suggestion that the woman committed suicide he asked the jury to consider if she would have said just before she died, “I am not going to die, am I?” if she had taken arsenic herself. The. jury was away three quarters of an hour and when they returned Arm strong replied that he had nothing further to say. He stood rigidly to attention while the Judge said he agreed with the verdict and passed sentence. Armstrong went to the cells without aid, preserving the same cool and collected demeanour which he exhibited during the long cross-examination. Notice of appeal has been given.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.