KAIWARRA MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2654, 16 July 1889, Page 2

KAIWARRA MURDER.

CIIEMIS FOUND GUILTY. (lIV TKLi:cJKVI'II.— i'Klisa ASSOCIATION'.) Wki.M.votox, Monday. Tkii Chief Justice began summing up in tlm Kniwiirra murder case this morning. Ifo lii>t ii'iintfd nut that Chmnis was e>f a nationality generally uud'-rstood to lisa the weapon in tho way it was dune in this minder, Tlif Jury must be direful wil.li iviMiM to tin! "sin-ill pieces of paper. found in the wimnrl, tlnit, there was no mistake, and l.ht\v ni'isl; consider whether tlicy wric satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt tlie prisoner was tlifi person who enminilt' d tlin crime. Co-.m-cl had suggested that tlio polke evidence should be watched very carefully, and it was for the jury to say whether they could see any reason for tlie witnesses' making wilful 'mis-stntements. His Honour then proceeded to review tiie evidence in detail. His Honour's charge lasted 2:,- hours. Me said it was not an unusual thing for Kalians te> have such a dagger in their possession as the prisoner had, and, of course, in a country district everyone hail a gun. He coucl'uded by telling tlie jury if they found a. doubt at all in the prisoner's favour he must have tlio benefit of it. Tlie jury retired at ten minutes to one. Latkr. Thojiiryreturnedatr>.l~> p.m., and brought in a verdict e>f guilty. In answer to the usual question whether lie hnd anything to say why tho sentence should not be pronounced, the prisoner s;iid " Yes, I have a few words. I reckon 1 have been treated by the detectives very badly. They say they never f.mnd any powder flask in my place; I say there was one there on the right band side,'just cloits 1., the shot ijonch and the police jould have up either just as easily as one. They also say they never saw nny rpinil, but I cui assure your Honour there were four of them in the buck rnniii in a tin. 1 hnd wads for my gun and 1 never used pnper t'i w«d with in my life. A.s to tho bullets, a blacksmith nanii'd (libson gave two of them to me to sheiot pigs and I bopo your Honour will lind out tho truth of what I am now saying to-morrow e>r some time. The detectives also say they never saw a wad cutter, but it was close to the shot pouch, and I repeat that the detectives treated me very badly. I aiti willing to die now or swing at the gallows to-morrow. \ll I care for is my wife and children, for myself 1 care nothing, because 1 am innocent.." His Honour then put on the black cap. Ho appeared much affected as he said, " I don't feel it my duly to say much, but I may say the few words you have just uttered about the pouch will, in my opinion, go far to form, in the minds of most people, the fact of your guilt. Ido not believe for a moment the police conspired in your death. It is nut for me ti> express an opinion in the concurrence which the jury have returned. The prosecution has been m«t careful, and the defence able and no point in your favour has been lost." The death sentence was then passed. The jury had been absent a little eivor four hours and the Court was crowded the whole time.

The primmer maintained his cool determined look to the last ami never exhibited tho slightest change. His wife who has been in Court throughout the trial in a naturally quiet calm, broku down and while the sentence was b'.'ing pronounced was sobbing bitterly in a corridor.

The verdict excited considerable) surprise and discussion, few persons having expected ,a conviction, especially us hour after hour went by and the jury did not return. The. police authorities expected Cheniis would be acquitted. The d.iiiiniiig fuct was that the paper so carefully extracted from the gunshot wound, mid diligently and minutely pieced together, fitted the fragments gathered from the gurse and bushes by the roadside, and that section thus obtained corresponded exactly with the toro copy of the same issue of the livening Post taken from the prisoner's hoiiso. Chetiiis' counsel was not in Court to da) , , he had been unwell previous to the trial, and the strain made him too ill to appear.