THE PETONE MURDERS

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2138, 26 March 1897, Page 2

THE PETONE MURDERS

CONVICTION OP BOSHER. Mr Wilford counsel tor Bother,' declared that the actions of the accused or* the ni »ht of the murder were, consistent with innocence, as hf had purchased butter wanted by bis wife, taken a book promised to a lady and other rajribr matters, which counsel considered would l not have been doao by a man about to commit a diabolical murder. Further proof in tbe accused's iavour was tbat the last credit entry jn the books of the murdered rata was the purchase made by Bosher, an* ha challrVriged* the jury to t ink that any man who x intended to perpetrate sach a crime w«.ald allow such an entry. Mr Wilford argued that cash would have bean paid so as to remove any knowledge of tbe visit to the store. Regarding the scratch on tke hand and the torn pocket in ' b« coat of the accused he thoaght tbe jary would agree tbat Basber'e statement tkat the former was done while getting throagh a wire fence to feed bis horse, and tbe latter while getting into hie cart were correct. As to the accased's statement that he went to Jo ties' ob the morning after the murder to get testaments, which the Crown alleged were already in tbe accused's possession, Mr Wilford said the evidence showed thai Bosher was to take three test amenta to Taita, while be only had two in his possession, and therefore it was qaite feasible for Boshei to call at Jones' for the other book. Again he urged that as regards the footprint on the back doorstep, a point in prisoner's favour was that on its discovery he said, "It mftat be aiiae ; I was in there this naWniag." Counsel added that Mre Atkinson was tbe first to discover the bodies when Bosher entered the borne with her, but other evidence pointed to ihe fact that he had b.>en in, and on tbe question as to which boot* he wore on the night of the murder and tbe next morning there was a great deal of uncertainty. As to the robbery, he sai I the house had been ransacked, and he asked was it likely if, as suggested by the Crown, the prisoner's motive was money, that he would not have known the habits of the deceased, especially as he was in the habit of visiting the house, and would have been aware*where the money was kept, fit's theory was that the crime was the work of strangers. All Bosher's movements after the murder, such as going about his work as usual, sleeping well, &c, was consistent with the theory of innocence, and as to the knifr, whst was more likely than a man who knew hewn* suspected and had been worried by poiie would from fear bide the weapon though he had not committed the crime ? Regarding th? ••• Hence that Bosher wrs anxious tbat his name should not ppear in >rin', counsel explained that r wsa possibly diw to the fact that he h.U contracted a bigamous marriage, and that the announcement of his whereabouts would lead to unpleasant results.

Mr Wilford's address occupied three hours.

Mr Justice Edwslrdg occupied four hours in summing op, and the jury retired at 6. They were still out at 11 p.m.

The jury returned after 11 with a verdict of " Guilty," and sentence of d< atb. was pronounced in the nsaal way. The Court was crowded, though the hour was late.

Bosher received the sentence very calmly. When asked if he had anything to say, he • said before he was arreßted several of tbe witnesses had come to him and told him if the police arrested him they would see him through, but they had betrayed him, and be left them .to their consciences.

A Press telegram says : It will be remembered that on the bodies of the Jones's, murdered at Petone, a large quantity of pepper was found, and in connection with this Mr Bell, the Crown Prosecutor, after the jury hid delivered tli* ir verdict, and before they left the box, said he would like to tell them of one fact which would lighten their minds. A tia of pepper had been bought from the Jones's by the man who had just been sentenced, as an entry in Mr Jones's book had shown ; and that was evidently the tin which had been found on the table, as it could not be found in Bosher's house.

According to a narrative of Bbsher's career, published by the Post, the convict's real name was Etieune Jean Brocher, which would account for the fact that he used to be known in Akaroa as Brusher. (Not correct; he was known here nsßrochier.) He is believed to have been born about 1857 iv Belfort. He first became known to the police iv Timaru in 1874, when a charge of theft was dismissed. Next year he got eighteen months for forgery. He then went to Akaroa, where be married his first wife in 1878. In 1882 he disappeared, alter borrowing a horse and saddle, which he sold in Lyttelton, A warrant is still out against him for tin.-, but the witnesses are not now available. Until he returned in 1890 nothing is I known, but his own account, already published, that he was forced to serve among the dmes damne's of the French army in Algiers. Un returning he telegraphed to his wife, asking whether he should go back to her, and she replied, " o, never.'' Her own description of him is : " My husband is the sort of man who, if he knew a man had nmney in- i is house, would make friends of Mm, and then take every means to get it. One who did not know him would think him genuine, bat he is a bad lot." Although the jury were out so lotig, it is stated that eleven were in favour. The other objected to capital punishment, and the time was spent bringing hiai joutid to the views of the majority. No

comment is made on the fact, but it i very itoticeable that Bosher, when asked if he had anything to say before setiteucH' was pronounaed, made no protestation id innocence. In case it may be wondered that the Crown Prosecutor's finil -tatfmeat about the pepper was never placed before the jury, it should be explained that, legally, it was not evidence. Other ■entries in Jones's books of purchases by the prisoner were adduced during the trial because Bosher himself admitted them, but this one could not, and no corroborative evidence could be obtained. fu ' i rr - • linriiTiiiwS