THE CASTLETOWNROCHE MURDER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1318, 21 March 1885, Page 1

THE CASTLETOWNROCHE MURDER.

W. Sheehan was again before the Police Court in Auckland on Wednesday, when Sergeant Denny, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, gave evidence, and the depositions of witnesses previously taken before the Magistrate in Ireland were read. One of the witnesses in ids depositions swore tfiat he saw Sheehan and hi? brother-in-law place the bodies in a cart and take them to the well in which they were found. At the Police Court on Thursday, the depositions having been read over to William Sheehan, accused of the Castletownroehe murders, the prisoner wa» warned in the usual manner, and in response to the customiry challenge said he had nothing to say. Mr Napier addressed the Court in defence on the question of the Jurisdiction of His Worship. Commenting on the evidence, he referred to the fact the only statement upon which the accused could be remanded back to Ireland was that of the lad David Dwan. He discredited the evidence of this youth, who was, he said, a poor demented creature, • whose word was not reliable, Mr Napier procesded to suggest that it was a concocted story, and Imped that any service Sheehan rendered in clearing up the mystery might lessen his own sentence. He quoted authorities to show that very clear evidence was necessary before a prisoner could be remanded to another country under The. Fugitive Offenders Act, and held that in this case the evidence was not nearly sufficient. His Worship (Mr H. G. Seth SmiMi) said the prisoner would be committed to the Mount Eden gaol to await his return to Ireland on a charge of murder. He would not, however, be surrendered for fifteen days, and in the meantime he might apply for a writ of habeas corpus, and test the question raised before a judge of the Supreme Court, The prisoner was then removed from the dock. It is understood Mr Napier hue decided to apply to the Supreme Court for a writ of habeas corpus, in order to teat the points raised. During the reading of the depositions describing the finding of the bodies, Mrs Sheehan tainted, and had to be removed from Court.