THE GREYIMOUTH MURDER.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 6976, 15 February 1918, Page 3

THE GREYIMOUTH MURDER.

Eggers Found Guilty

Cbrhtchurch, Feb 15

At the trill of Eggers for murder no evidence was called »'or the defence. Counsel addressed the jury. Mr Hunter, for accused, stressed the point tblt as accused was not standing his trial for theft he was not bound to. explain how 30 large a sum of money came into his poasession.

His Hoßor, summing up, after referring to the minor points raised by Mr Honter, sail that all these were of secondary importance compared with the evidence respecting the finding of io large a sum of the missing money in accuse I's possession. Counsel had made a point that accused was not answering a charge of theft. If that sort of thing satisfied them, well and good, but how could they separate stealing from murder? Tfae law expected a man who was found in possession of property of enormous value, six days after it was stolen, if he was in honest mari to give an -explanation and some assistance. As to that, however, no explanation had been given. That was the whole question so far as the1 jury was concerned, and they were Quite entitled to say that the man who stole tbe money was the man who

murdered Coultfaard. The jury retired ■t 6.38 p.m. and returned at 8.51 with. • verdict of guilty. Asked if he had anything to say, accused seemed to make au attempt to articulate, but did not say any . thing. His Honour, assuming the black cap, •entenced accused to be hanged, Eggers showed no sign of emction *heri removed from the dock, His Honour thanked the police for - the manner in which they had prepared the evidence, and ordered the money found on'accused (with the ex- / ception of three ten-pound notes) to become"the property of the Crown-