DUNEDIN.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3530, 19 April 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

This day. The Dunodia Murder—Butler Acquitted,

The trial of Butler was continued on Saturday. The court was packed, and there was also a large crowd outside. The prisoner who did not call any witnesses, at once entered upon his defence and spoke for hours in a clear and firm Toice, occasionally pausing to consult his notes. He criticised the evidence closely, and contended that nothing had been brought forward by the crown to connect him with the matter. He explained his attempt to escape from Dunediu, by the fact that he belived the police were going to arrest him for a burglary, and that he was tinder police surveillance on the night of the murder. He affirmed that he was more than half drunk, and away from the scene of the catastrophe. The Summing Up. The Judge, in summing up, wae is

favor of the prisoner. The jury retired shortly after six p.m. and at five minutes past nine they returned with a verdict of " Not Guilty." The prisoner displayed no emotion, and said nothing. The Court was packed, and an enormous crowd outside hooted after hearing the verdict, and also hooted tlie prisoner. No mention was made of nolle prosequi in the other cases, and the prisoner will now be proceeded against on a charge of murdering the wife. .