TWO CAPITAL SENTENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1899, Page 5

TWO CAPITAL SENTENCES.

At the Maitland (N.S. Wales) Circuit Court, before Mr Justice Owen, D. Taylor, a married man, was charged with having on December 23, 1897, at Barrangton River, criminally > assaulted his step-daughter, 15 years of age. Prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to death.

At Wagga in the case of Edward George- Donnelly, . indicted for the .manslaughter of young .Corb.ett on Christmas Eve, after hearing evidence, Mr Justice Simpson withdrew the case from the jury, and the accused left the court a free man. Thomas Ryan was charged with stealing a. horse at Walbundrle. The jury was unable to agree, and was locked up for the nfght, and being- still unable to agree -was discharged. Prisoner wais. remanded to take his trial at the nextCircuit Court, a.nd was admitted to bail. John M'Grath, found guilty of robbing Arthur Davenport, at Narandera, was sentenced to five years penal servitude. At Mudgee the trial.of John M'Coy for the murder of his wife on the 2Gth September last lasted all day. Dr. Nickoll, Government medical officer,, gave evidence that he regarded accused as a monomaniac, as regards his wife's infidelity, for which he had absolutely no reason whatever. The defence urged insanity, and the judge drew a distinction . between medical and legal insanity. The jury, after an hour and a half's retirement, returned to court, and asked to have the doctors evidence re-read. After being locked tip for two hours, the jury found the prisoner.guilty, but recommended him to mercy as there was a doubt as to his sanity. Judge Walker then pronounced sentence of death. . . • ■