THE HARAPIPI MURDER CASE.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 267, 29 March 1898, Page 2

THE HARAPIPI MURDER CASE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I see a letter in your issue of the 24th on the above subject, sigued " Waikato," in which the writer says there is considerable feeling over the verdict. I can fully endorse those sentiments, so much so that had those settlers at the inquest known how it would end, and that a man guilty of a deliberate coldblooded murder would get off as he did, he would never have ttood in the dock at all, for he would have been lynched. Pohlen was just as much insane as the man who has just got five years for an attempted assault on a woman. Both men allowed their passions to get the better of them. Of the two the lattar was mo'e likely to be insane at the time. " Waikato " says in his letter that the punishment is severe. Where, I ask, does the severity come in ? He will be well looked after for the rest of Ills days, have a good bed to sleep on, the beat of eating and drinking, and, if he gets eick, everything will be done to keep him alive, bottled porter and wioe if required, all at tha public's expense. The insanity business is an American dodge, and now as we are following their lead in that respect, 1 propose we go further and form a Vigilance Committee, not to counteract the law, but to uphold the law. There are plenty of men of the Pohlen stamp knocking about that are afflicted with bad tempers, and would no doubt give way to them if it was not for fear of the rope. You, Mr Editor, will, of course, say the matter is now settled and we ought not to say any more about it, but this is our o.dy time to express an opinion on such a serious subject, as while the trial was pending it would not be right to say anything. —1 am, etc., Waikato Settler.