THE WELLINGTON SENSATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8446, 21 May 1907, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON SENSATION.

TRIAL OF CLAUDE PAGET,

By Telegraph—Press Association.

WELLINGTON, May 20.

The trial of Claude Paget, charged! with the murder of Eleanor Pearl Axup, on February 12th, was commenced, to-day, before Mr Justices Cooper. Paget pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr T. M. Wilford. Mr M. Myers appeared for the Crown. The genera), circumstances of this case were fully published at the time of its occurrence. The deceased girl was 17 years of age, and Paget had been on friendly terms with her for some months and they had been in the habit of walking out together. He had asked her father for the girlin marriage, but had been refused on the ground of her tender years. On Jhe evening of February 11th Paget visited the house occupied by the girl's parents, being then, according to the mother, under the influence of drink. He said he was going away next day to San Francisco, and bade them good-bye. Early next morning,, however, he visited the house again*, and on the girl coming downstairs he followed her into the dining-room. A minute or two afterwards shots were heard, and on Mrs Axup rushing into the room she found the girl lying on the floor, dead, with a bullet wound in her neck, and the man It was alleged that on the previous day prisoner had purchased the reivolver and cartridges found in his. possession at an ironmonger's in the city. The evidence of the girl's mother and the cook at the house was taken to-day, and the further hearing of the case was adjourned until to-mor-row.