ALLEGED MURDER.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11009, 5 July 1901, Page 3

ALLEGED MURDER.

CHARGE AG.iINST AN AUCKLAND DOCTOR. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELKGRAM.) AUCKLAND, July 4. At the Police Court this morning, Dr. John Wilkins was charged with that on or about the 17th of May, 1901, he did murder one Mary O'Dowd. Mr J. A. Tole appeared for the prosecution, and Mr J. R. Reed for the defence. Mr Tole s*id that he was instructed by the Inspector of Police, who was anxious to dispose of the case as soon as possible, to ask _or a remand until Monday next.. -VLr.Reed said he had no objection to the remand provided bail was granted. He' personally was prepared to go on at once. His Worship said that Mf Reed was not reasonable. Witnesses had to be summoned. Air Reed went on to say, in reference to the question of bail, that bail had been granted in Melbourne on a murder charge. Mr Tole said it was the practice Tin England not to grant bail in any charges, of murder. His Worship granted an ad-, jourcinent of the case till next Monday. In regard to bail, his Worship said this was a somewhat difficult case to decide. He was not aware whether the practice was to refuse bail in cases of murder of this kind. It was somewhat different from the ordinary kind of murder charges. If it was murder, it was simply constructive murder, and it might turn out, as in the case Regina v Orpen, that the Judge might rule it was only manslaughter, if it was anything. Taking these facts into .consideration, and the fact that the accused had practically been charged for some time, he thought it would "be proper to admit him to bail, but it woidd have to be very substantial He asked Mr Tole if he would name the sum he thought sufficient for bail. Mr Tole said that he would leave the amount to his Worship. His Worship then said the bail would be, accused in £750, .and two sureties of .3750 each. The accused was subsequently released on bail.