SUPREME COURT—NELSON. CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 191, 20 September 1866, Page 2

SUPREME COURT— NELSON. CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

[Before his Honor Mr. Justice Johnston.] CONVICTION OF SULLIVAK SENTENCEOF DEATH.

[Our telegram of yesterday's proceedings at the Special Sittings of the Supreme Court, Nelson, did not arrive till ten o'clock last night, too late for publication in that day's issue ; but we are happy to learn that the cause of this unavoidable delay no longer exists, the damage sustained by the wires during the late storm having been made good, and communication with Nelson now direct.] Nelson, 19th September. The Court opened at nine o'clock this morning, and was instantly filled, every nook and cranny being occupied by persons anxious to learn the fate of the fourth and last unconvicted ot this desperate gang of bloodthirsty miscreants. Mr. Justice Johnston took his seat on the Bench, when Sullivan was placed in the dock, charged with the wilful murder of James Battle. A special jury was impannelled to tiy the case. The prisoner offered as his plea, an acknowledgment of complicity in the murder for which he was indicted, but that he did not himself murder Battle. A plea of not guilty was, however, recorded, and the trial proceeded. Sullivan not being defended by counsel, conducted his own case, and when the examination of witnesses had concluded, he made a long address to the jury. His Honor then charged the jury, who, after a very short consultation in such a serious case, returned a verdict of wilful murder. The Judge, in pronouncing the awful sentence of the law, feelingly addressed the wretched man, who was frequently moved to tears. Prisoner was ordered to be hanged by the neck till dead, but it is the general opinion that the information given by him to the Crown will induce a commutation of the sentence, and that the extreme penalty will not be enforced.