THE MASTERTON TRAGEDY VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1895, Page 2

THE MASTERTON TRAGEDY VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER.

I EXTRAORDINARY COOLNESS OF THE i PRISONER. HE IS COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (Our Own Correivondent.J Mabterton, This Dat. The inquest on the body of Arthur Herbert, the victim o£ Thursday's tr&gedy, was 5 held before Mr. T. Hutchison, Coroner, yes3 terday. The evidence adduced merely confirmed 3 the information already published ; and the I jury, after a few moments' retirement, rer turned a verdict of Wilful Murder against 9 Andrew John Somerville. } Somerville was charged with the murder t in the Magistrate's Court this morning, , before Mr. T. Hntoheson, S.M., and Mr. W. ! H. Beotham, J.P. B Prisoner walked calmly into the dock, , folded his arms, and displayed an indifferj enco to the proceedings which, under the ciroumstances, is little short of astounding. When the prinoipal witness (Mr. A. M'Hutoheon) entered the box prisoner nodded and smiled. i Mr. Pownall appeared for the accused i The evidence given was merely a recapitui lation of that tendered at the inquest 1 Somerville was committed for trial at the > next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court i in Wellington. He reserved his defence. > Prisoner converses freely with the police, 1 and relishes his meals, sleeps soundly, and ) generally conducts himself as though he either did not realise his position or was quite indifferent as to his fate.

We are indebted to Mr. J. H. O'Kelly for a description of the scene in Queen-street, which, however, does not materially add to the account of the tragedy published by us yesterday.