KAIWARRA MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2655, 18 July 1889, Page 2

KAIWARRA MURDER.

DEATH OF PRISONER'S COUNSEL. (u V TKLKGHAI'H.— I'HKSS ASSOCIATION.) Wisi.lincton, Wednesday. Thk Chemis ease is still the sensation of Wellington, and claim* all attention, The Italian residents in the city are profuse in their declarations of Chemis' innocence, and-are confident that the death sentence will be commuted. Upwards of 300 copies of the petition to tho Governor have been circulated in the city and alrnndy 4.000 signatures have been obtained. Mr Jj'erriandez who initiated tho affair, states that he has received telegrams from various parts of the colony asking that copies of the petition be forwarded. A rumour was current in town to-day that Dr. Cahill had received a threatening letter to the effect that if Chemis was hung he would bo shot, but it is ascertained that the doctor had received an anoyinous letter hinting that ho should have been more merciful to tho accused; no threat whatever was used.

A statement made by the prisoner to Mr Jollicoe, who visited tho Terrace Gaol yesterday, has been forwarded to the Minister of Justice ; it had no relation to the facts of the case, but simply referred to a complaint against the gaoier relative to the employment of counsel, and a reply has been received from tho Minister to the effect that an enquiry has been ordered. Tho Post, to-night says it is stated that one of tho jurors in the late murder case was so deaf as to be unable to hear much of the evidence. Three of the papers published in the Wairarap.i, viz., the Daily, Star and Observer, in their leading columns, declare the jury had no evidence te justify a verdict of guilty, A further sensation was caused in town this evening when it was announced that .Mr C. I'J. Bunny, leading counsel for Chemis, was dead. All through tho trial it was known that Mr Bunny was suffering, but his indomitable pluck would not allow him to engage assistance, and on Saturday, when he addressed the jury it was freely remarked that it was wonderful how he managed to last it out. Since Saturday Mr Bunny has been confined to his bed, and under the care of a couple of medical gentlemen. It was known that he was suffering from a mild form of typhoid fever, but no serious result was expected until late this afternoon, whon he took a turn for tho worse, and at 5.30 breathed his last.