THE MASTERTON MURDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5102, 13 August 1895, Page 3

THE MASTERTON MURDER.

BRIHiUNTEFFOItrs OP COUNSEL, SPEECHES OF MR JELLICOE AND MB GULLY. THE IMPRESSION IN COURT, The following: detailed roproduciiou of the brilliant defence made by Mv E. G. Jellicoo in the Alnstcrton Mi't'der Case, and the no less clover mil eloquent effort on the part of ilia Crown Prosecutor, Mr Hugh jully, lias reached us by post since )iir telegraphed version of tho final H'oceedings in the Supremo Court ivns published. We give tho descriptive sketch in our correspondent's nvn words : THE SPEECH IN DEFENCE. ■ Continuing his speech, Mr Jellicoo lrges that ijomerville should even have jecn placed in an asylum nt the age ot lightcen, when he attacked old MeJauslaiul irith an axe; and insinuates tint lie was shipped olf to the Colony as nore convenient. Then counsel goes oil' at a diligent and sxpoumls dry law: Take a broad view if the case, he suggests to the jury. Next he touches upon the question of Irink: Its important bearing on the irescnt case. He draws a picture effect -liquor; terrible it looks. When irrestcd the man smclledof stale liquor, :ays Mr Jellicoe, and his voice sinks to in impressive tone. Now he dashes in a few lines of loeiry, which arc appropriate and ■H'ective. Next we find him at cross purposes vith His Honor He has suggested to he jury a verdict ot manslaughter. | ['ho Judge interpolates: "On what [rounds?" Mr Jellicoe replies with londerous law-books! Won't pass; and lis Honor assures counsel that on the lyidencc there can be no question ot iiansliiughtcr: It is either murder or icquittal because of insanity. They : laiidy words on the point, His Honor i s linn and courteous, and Mr Jellicoe , iccepts the position; but the passagc-at- ( inns brings us to the peroration sooner han we expected. , It is begun nftly and impressively— ' low solemnly he utters Ihe word Death 1 ' iV'e feel a shiver pass through us, for ' lie word lias a terrible significance at i his moment. Death! Is that the ( miiislimciit for such a person? He j icorns Ihe idea, and passes to another i [hid of punishment. He paints a piti- r ible ]iicture of prisoner in a Lunatic Isylum. l He conjures flic jury with the solemn ' lufy devolving upon them. He is ( crvent, eloquent, and impressive; and t ids down after uiakiuga brilliant speech 1 if Iwo hours' duration, i We all feel he has made flic utmost j )f his brief: we appreciiile flic adinirible manner in which lie lias worked i lis case; and agree that prisoner has lad the benefit of the very besl efforts ' if iiis counsel. ' Jilt Ol'LLY's CONCLUDING AI'PEAL. 8 The Crown Prosecutor, Mr Gully, is ip: he talks to the Jury—"Let me dace the broad fads of the case before ' ,'ou," he says; and deftly he arrays '.he ' ialient points. s Here are the weak links in the defence, s the purport of his utterance. He ( ilcdficJutinmers those weak links: he i, vorks vigorously, but fairly and „ quarely all through. i Jfo suggests a motive for the crime: , ['lie man is left willi 17s lid in his locket; his case is adjourned with costs igainst him, amounting to over six 2 rounds. He believes he has a gticvanec e, igainst his victim; he buys a revolver; b neets his man—tragedy! Mr Gully vorks up his contenlionas to the motive ~ deverly and well. The Crown Prosecutor drifts info flic •egion of insanity; he admits it is a " lillicult problem, but doubts whether " ho medical gentlemen have looked at b he matter in the siime way as the jury h s hound to view it. He clothes his a heory in the choicest language, shows f tto the Jury from several points; he ~ mddles it, nkys with it, and works it for , ill it is worth. I 1

He plunges into the early history of theprisoner; discounts its value; this evidence lie thinks, indicates merely that he was ahoy with a vicious temper and was peculiar in his ways. He tilts at the theory of delusions; docs not think there is any ground for believing that they existed in prisoner's case. Many sane people fancy without any reason that others have a down upon them!

I Ho brings all his heavy artillery to ' bear on the evidence of Dr Fookes. "A scientific view the doctor takes; but it is not the view yon can take," Mr Gully suggests. He Hies at the theory of drunkenuess: the evidence points to the fact Somervillc was nut drunk! He worries the drink question like a terrier; gets to the peroration, and winds up a really smart speech about ]0 p.m.