NEW GUINEA COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 264, 20 August 1936, Page 5

NEW GUINEA COURT.

CHARGE OF MURDER REDUCED. CRITICISM BY A JUDGE. (United Press Association—Copyright.) RABAUL (New Guine'a), Auf. 19. Chief Judge Wanliss to-day found Lucidius Zimmer not guilty of illegally attacking a native. Zimmer, who is attached to the Catholic mission in New Guinea, was originally charged with shooting the native, but the charge of murder bad bc'en reduced by the Crown law officer to a charge of manslaughter. The Judge scathingly criticised the officer and said lie had deprived the Court of the power of considering whethel* accused was guilty of wilful murder or murder, leaving the Court to deal only with a charge of manslaughter.

PRIEST’S TERM REDUCED.

BURNED DOWN LUTHERANS’ HOUSES.

SYDNEY, Augus 19

The High Court on an appeal by a New Guinea mission priest, Anthony Cranssen, reduced bis sentence from five years’ imprisonment to six months’ imprisonment, to date from May 1. A majority of the Court held the sentence to be out of all proportion to the seriousness of the offence.

A message on May 8 said that Cranssen, a Catholic priest, pleaded guilty to a charge of burning down Lutheran native teachers’ houses and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. The Judge said that Cranssen had besmirched the mission and had been a traitor to his church, bis bishop, and his co-workers.