DUNEDIN.
Tuesday.
Augustus was acquitted on the charge of manslaughter without any evidence being adduced. At the outset, Mr O'Meagher, prisoner's counsel, stated that when deceased's depositions were taken she was in an unfit state to undergo the cross-examination, and her crossexamination was adjourned, but before it could be continued the woman died. This was admitted by the Magistrate, and the Judge held that, under the circumstances, there was no case, and the jury returned a verdict of " Not guilty," 4s directed. Prisoner was then arraigned for assault, with intent to commit bodily harm, and pleaded guilty to a common assault, which plea was accepted by the Crown Prosecutor. In sentencing him, the Judge said prisoner had been guilty of great brutality to a woman who had gone to her account. He was a man void of all common humanity aud decency, and if the law permitted he (the learned Judge) would give him a sentence five times as much as that he would now pass. For a common assault, the maximum penalty was a year's imprisonment, with hard labour, to which be sentenced the prisoner.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS18811005.2.10.3
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3984, 5 October 1881, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
186DUNEDIN. Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3984, 5 October 1881, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.