THE BOY MURDERER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 254, 26 October 1893, Page 5

THE BOY MURDERER.

Sentence of Death Passed.

Ab the Hay (New South Wales), Circuit; Court recently, before Mr Justice Stephen, Alexander Bryson, a lad between 13 and 14 years of age was tried, for the wilful murder of a roan whose name was unknown, bufc ib is supposed to have been George Smitli, at a rabbiter'3 camp near Mungadel, about five miles from Hay, on July 6. The evidence was similar to that taken at ohe inquest on July 10. Bryson was camped near uhe Mungadel woolshed. ! On Sunday morning three men, who did not belong to the camp, the deceased, John Bartley, and Arthur JLogan, were ab the camp at about 9 o'clock. Bryeon toek his dog. tiod it) to a stump, and commenced beating it with a leather girth. The deceased interfered and pushed Bryson on one aide. Bryson then hit deceased with the strap, and deceased retaliated by giving Bryson a box on the ears which knocked him down. Bryson then said, ' I'll shoot you, you bastard,' and walked to his bent 30 yards away. He remained there about a minute and came out carrying a Winchester repeating rifle, used for shooting kangaroos, in his hands. By this time deceased had walked backed to the fire. Bryson pub the gun to his shoulder and took aim, but Smith was then behiud Bartley, who was between the two men. Bartley called out to Bryson to put down his gun and he did so. The deceased also said, ' Put down that gun or I will break it,' and took a pace towards Bryeon, but retreated. Bryson again took aim, and Bartley, who was then behind Smith, thinking by this .time that the boy was in earnest, stepped two paces out of the line. Bryson fired and Smith staggered, calling, I'm shot dead.' He never spoke again bub died within two minutes. Bryson waa only seven paces from Smith

when he fired. The bulleb pierced a pocketbook which the deceased was carrying in his left hand coat pocket. JThe . magazine part of his rifle was out of order, and when arrested Bryson said he did noti think there was a cartridge in it. The de«ceased bad nob been identified. The pocketbook bore the name of George Smith, bob neither of the other men knew him for any time. All three were apparently shearers waiting for work. The jury at the inquw* ' returned a verdict of wilful murder, »n» Bryson was committed to take his trial at the nexb Circuit Court, to be held in September. He was apparently unconcerned during the inquiry, though when the verdicb was given he truly appeared to realise his position. Bryaon told the arresting constable that he was 13 years of ago, a native of Carlton, Victoria, and an orphan. At the trial accused went , into the box to give evidence on bis own behalf. He swore that he was nob aware the rifle was loaded, and that he only pointed it at Smith in tun. He had no intention of shooting the man. The jury, after aboub two hours' retirement, brought in a verdicb of wilful murder, but recommended prisoner to mercy on account of his youth. Sentence of death wa3 passed in the usual form. Bryeon appeared quite unconcerned during the trial, and was unmoved by the) sentence.