SENTENCED TO DIE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12532, 18 April 1935, Page 3

SENTENCED TO DIE

%OMA.N FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER. strange guernsey trial ENDED. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright.) LONDUN, April 10. Gertrude do la Marc, aged 27, a housekeeper, by a majority verdict was 'louml guilty <>7 cutting the. throat d a- .tanner, Allred Fionard, 70 by whom she was employed and i(i forging a will in her own favor, and was sentenced to death. The curious island law resulted in a most: dramatic climax to the trial. The -1 jurats filed in alter an hour's absence. The baililf asked: -‘Are you of opinion that she committed the crime?” The senior jurat: ”1 think site committed a deliberate cold-blooded murder.’’ The remainder replied: ‘Acs.’' The bailiff: ‘‘Do you consider that sin l was insane?” The senior jurat ;replied, “No” ; the second jurat “Yes." De lit Mare's fate alternated until it. was four-all “Yes” and “No.” The ninth .jurat replied “No,"’ and the tenth “No,” thus sealing the prisoner's, fate by s : x votes to four. The eleventh replied “Yes.” The bailiff donned a high-crowned blue bonnet corresponding io the English black cap, and pronounced sentence. ‘ Described as one of the strangest murder trials in British history, the case was hoard at Guernsey, where the local law enforces that the jury, arrayed in purple robes, shall debate their verdict in open court audible to all spectators. The murder of Mr Brouard was discovered on February fi and inquiries by Scotland Yard detectives led to the arrest of Mrs do la Vare more than a fortnight later. She is tho mother of a. three-year-old daughter.