The Great Barrier Murder.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2504, 19 January 1887, Page 2

The Great Barrier Murder.

TRIAL OFCAPFBEY AND PENN,

United Pfikas Association.

Auokund, January 18,

.. John Caffrey and Henry Albort Penn were charged at the "Supreme Court to-day with the Great Barrier murder. The court was densely orowded, and there were some women and children in the gathering. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr Williamson) with his partner, Mr Gover, prosecuted. Mr Napier appeared for Penn, and Messrs Palmer and O'Meagher for Caffrey. The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty in a firm voice, and appeared .perfectly composed. Counsel exercised full right of challenging the jurors. Mr Napier said after his right was exhausted a juror had. boon, heard to make statements about the case, and .[express his determination regarding it. It was suggested that the Judge should dismiss the whole jury and empannel a new one. Mr Justice Ward said the application for such an extraordinary action should have beoifmade before ,the jury were sworn and the prisoners delivered over to them. It did not appear to hhn that the expression of opinion by a man upon a case which had been very prominently before the public constituted any disqualification;, if so, it would be hard to fiud a property qualified juror in the city. The application .wjis dismissed,. and the trial' prooeeded; Mr Williamson opening the proceedings at .great length. * . ■ Graces.Graham's evidonpo' was of a veryiriioriminating kind, showing . that.the'-murder;was \ mtenjibnt'.was to kMuot ■Taylor's daughter '-aiifl maim > : the, : :dd •• nian,and-E-if 'he. [prevented thein 'out, their desigiiie •waa;'td'be' murdered. The' girl still shows an . iflolinatieo to -.screen sexamination . ./6(. ■ drweV. Graham lostedM- day,. ' &;®e%pp(ste her evidence was contradictory: 4b fthat • given, in .the lower Corurt,' afi3/jts ■ general tendency was .to exoiilpaß ':. Penn.- In the oarly stage 'ds&«s:. ienc'Qi the Judge said' she;,seem»d ; 'fo' : :give her' evidence' very fairly, i buCft the he remarked' that the witness was evidently biassedin Ponn'a favor, as since she had been hi the box he ha.d seenher exchange' smiles with the prisoner.