WANGANUI.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4469, 2 May 1883, Page 2

WANGANUI.

Yesterday. Vital statistics for the month :—Births 23, marriages 8, deaths 4 Criminal SessionsIn the murder case, the jury, at 11,15 last night, returned a verdict of guilty with a recommendation to mercy. There was a dead silence in the Court, and immediately on the verdict being given, .Mr Hutchison informed His Honor, Jon the prisoner's own statement, that she was pregnant. His Honor remarked that if he had known before he would have provided for the presence of women,, from whom to get a jury of matrons. His Honor produced authority to show that sentence should be given. He then sentenced the prisoner to death. On the Court resuming, the prisoner stated, in answer to the question why sentence should not be executed, that she was pregnant. A jury of twelve matrons was then empannelled.and his Honor informed them that their duty was to ascertain the truth of the prisoner's statement. The jury retired to an outer room with the prisoner in charge of the gaoler's wife; afterwards medical assistance was called in, and after about an hours' deliberation, the jury came out and said that they all agreed but one. His Honor remarked that the verdict must be unanimous; they must retire; they eventually agreed, and gave a verdict that, to the best of their belief, the prisoner was '* quick with child." His Honor said there would be a respite till next Criminal Sessions in October, and the recommendation of the jury would be communicated to the Governor.