A TE KARAKA MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

A TE KARAKA MURDER.

TRIAL AT GISBORNE IN 18S6. PRISONER -RECOMMENDED TO MERCY. “GOOD-BYE, GENTLEMEN.” There was a great sensation in Gisborne on June 29, 1886, when ’William Rowland was tried for the murder of a. mate, Edward Neavc, at Te Karnka. In a statement made to the police, prisoner said there had been a dispute over a contract. Early in the morning when he was going to bed he had heard a shot and had run out to a whare and asked a Maori to take a gun away from Nenve as he was shooting himself and throw it in the bush. Neave had then rushed at him ‘with an axe which he had wrested from him. A Native testified that prisoner produced the gun from tenet ween two beds and-that it -was still warm. The jury disagreed and n. new trial followed at once and the second jury brought in a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy, bn tlie grounds that a law point had been raised with reference to the aLrUsability of the dying man’s depositions and that prisoner was excited at the time of the shooting. Prisoner sniii: “I have nothing to say,” and, after a pause, “I am not guilty.’’ After sentence, when being removed, be added: “Goodbye, gentlemen ; I’m now going in earnest.” His wife, who was in the gallery, fainted and had to he carried out of Court. ...