The Ararimu Murder.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2502, 12 January 1877, Page 2

The Ararimu Murder.

CUKTIN SENTENCED TO DEATH.

At the conclusion of the evidence in this case, (which was in many respects gimilar to that produced at the inquent on Shaaaghan) and after learned counsel had addressed the jury and His Honor the Judge had summed up,

The jury retired to consider their verdict, at a quarter, to., ,6 o'clock, and returned into Court after a lapse of 35 minutes (5.20), finding' the. prisoner "Guilty." '.' The verdict was received with profound silence, notwithstanding that every part of the Court was densely thronged. THE SENTENCE.

The Registrar, id a voice < treinulods with emotion, challenged the prisoner in the usual form whether he bad anything to say why .sentence should not be passed upon him " to die according to law." The Prisoner: I have not much to say, but I think I did not get justice. What was a man to do? Living on a farm by myself, a man comesto beat me on mj own ground. Where is the protection"?' I think the jury has not been honest to '-„-- me in bringing in this verdict. .Again I ask, where is a man's protection" working on a farm from daylight to dark. A man' comes to beat me in my. own place, and, murder me, and burn my house down. Is that honest ? Who is able to answer me that question—where was my protection ? (A long pause.) ■' His Honor:' Have you done,- prisoner |. Prisoner; No; I would like tuat question answered. ■'."'•■'' '

His Honor: There is no question or answer now. Prisoner: I say the doctor's evidence is wrong altogether. The evidence of the policeman, McLellan is wrong. I only said to him a couple of words. His cvi? dence is false, and the evidence of the two doctors is false. As to McLellan!s wife, I only said two or three words to her.' She made' up the rest with false evidence. I had no axe. It was * fair stand up fight with sticks. We ,had;a " fight before. This was some years ago. His Honor: You cannot be permitted N to refer ta^hajt passed years ago. t Prisoner: He (Snanaghan) said lie ,' would burn my house down and do aafhe I did to Parr.' (The prisoner was narrating t something about the burning of Pact's' house, which had cost £500, and was Insured for £270.) ' •" .

His Honor: You cannot be allowed to wander away into all kinds of irrelevant statements.

Prisoner: I say that it was a fair standup fight. Detective Jeffrey ought to have told the Jury that I told him I was squaring the sticks for a ladder on that day. (Pause.)

His Honor V Have you finished ? <*■ Prisoner: It is a hard case that a man working upon his own land for years should'have no protection against a man~ who would come and beat him. I have worked for nine years on my, land, ever since I came here. lam known for the last sixteen years, and I never injured any man. I have nothing more to say. -, His Honor : Martin Curtin, the jury having found you guilty of the crime of, wilful murder—the highest-crime known to the law—it becomes my duty to pass , upon you the sentence of that law for. your crime. In fact you have been con* victed almost upon your own confession that you struck the blows which resulted in the death of the unfortunate man Shanaghan—at least you have not denied that you did so, and the fact was admitted as part of your defence. As to the motives which induced you to do so, I cannot enter into what may have passed in. your mind. Neither can I, nor can anyone else, absolutely speak as to the truth or falsehood of your statement. All I can say is this: that it appears to me as it appeared to the Jury, that these wounds could not have been inflicted in a fair fight with sticks. That you have been induced to this rash act through brooding over and fostering feelings of injury, real or imaginary, I'fully believe ; " but whether real or imaginary, such feelings can be no excuse for the crime of "murder. Unfortunately, it is this brooding over injuries, this fostering feelings of revenge, that too often drives men suddenly to the commission of such heinous crime as you have been found guilty of. I hope your case will be taken as a warning by others who may be possessed of such revengeful disposition*, lest the indulgence of such feelings bring them to the position which you noir occupy. No doubt, your mode of life—• your hard working alone in the bush, may have tended to the growth of such feelings,, which other and more genial employment would have prevented. But it is not my duty, nor is it my inclination, to harrow your feelings, or my own by referring to the incidents in connection with this crime—they „ were incidents of great atrocity. [His Honor here assumed the

blackcap.] All I have now to do is* the painful and solemn duty of pronouncing upon you the last dread sentence of the law, which is,'that you, Martin Curtro, be taken from hence to the common gaol at Mount Eden, therein that you, in the form and manner provided by law, be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on you, for you can expect no mercy at the handa\of

man. The scene in court during the prisoner's address and the delivery of the judicial sentence was singularly impressive and affecting.