A TE KARAKA MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

A TE KARAKA MURDER.

TRIAL AT GISBORNE IN I«°G.

PRISONER RECOMMENDED TO MERCY. 1 ■ 000 D-BY E, G EXTLE AI EX. ’’

There was a great sensation in Gisborne on June 29, 1886, when William Rowland was tried for the murder of a mate, Edward Xenvo, at Te Karaka.

lui a statement made to the police, prisoner said there had been a dispute over a contract. Early in tlm morning when he was going to bed he had heard a shot and had run out to a whare and asked a Aiaori to take a gun away from Xeave as he was shooting himself and throw it in tlie hush. Xeave had then rushed at him avitli an axe which he had wrested from him. A Native testified that prisoner produced the gun from iebetween two beds and-that it-was still warm.

The jury disagreed and a new trial followed at once and the second jury brought in a verdict of guilty, with a reiommendation to mercy, on the grounds that :i I;i• point had been raised with rcTreuco to the :ulm:vsnliility of tin 1 dying mail’s depositions and that prisoner was excited at the time of tlie shooting. Prisoner said: “I have nothing to say,” and, after a pause, “1 am not guilty.” After sentence, when being removed, lie 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.