INVERCARGILL.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3069, 16 December 1878, Page 4

INVERCARGILL.

Saturday. The Soutliland Wife Murder Case. / . The trial of Welsh for the murder of his wife was resumed this morning, when witnesses, in addition to those examined yesterday, were sent in the box. The Crown Prosecutor (McDonald) then addressed the jury for an hour, contending that the hypothesis that the woman! committed suicide 'was untenable, and they could come to no conclusion but that the deceased had come by her death at the hands of Welsh, and the offence was murder. Mr Wade addressed the Court for the defence for an hour and ahalf. He contended the woman either committed suicide, or had been murdered by a third person not discovered, and that the accused had fled into the bush through fear that he should be convicted of the crime. The Court then adjourned, and His Honor began his summing up about 3 p.m. Later.— Prisoner Sentenced to Death. The murfler case is finished. The Judp;e summed up exhaustively and with extreme impartially. His deliverance occupied two hours. The jury retired, and within half-an-honr returned with a Terdict of gmlty. The prisoner's demeanour was impassive. When asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be. passed upon him, he muttered almost inarticulately that he Inew nothing about it. He kept his eyes steadily fixed on the Judge, and did not display the slightest agitation when sentence was passed. The Judge was much affected. His handsjhook when placing the fatal cap on his head, and with tremulous voice he addressed the prisoner.: He said he had had a long and lair trial, and had been convicted by a jury of his countrymen, and with their verdict he thoroughly concurred. He then sentenced piisoner to death in the usual form. The verdict is regarded as righteous by every one here. .' * The Southland Times came out this morning double royal. It has been permanently enlarged. A leader on the subject alluded to the necessity of enlarge, ment through the progress of the town and district, and the hearty support awarded it since in a company's hands. '