BARRIER ISLAND MURDER CASE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5801, 24 January 1887, Page 2

BARRIER ISLAND MURDER CASE.

SENTENCED TO DEA.TH,

[united press association.] Auckland, January 22. Caffrey and Perm's trial was concluded. Napier made an able defence for Perm, speaking till the midday adjournment. The solicitor for the Crown spoke most of the afternoon. The Judge's summing up lasted an hour. He thought that no fouler crime than this ever stained the annals of the colony. Grace Graham's evidence was unreliable. In fact there was not a single mitigating circumstance in the whole case. There was ho doubt that Taylor was alive when Perm had his arm around his neck, and that he was. killed by .that fouth shot afterwards. That disposed of Perm's defence. The commenting on Caffrey's exclamation on the beach, "I have done it," and also that he had not done yet, but intended to finish the whole lot his Honor characterised this a3 a confession of fact. Concluding, his honor said that while they must give the prisoners the benefit of any doubt, it must be a reasonable doubt. The jury were out about an hour, and returned into Court with a verdict of " guilty " against both prisoners, but recommended them to mercy. Caffrey denied being guilty of the murder. He was incapable of it. ''Perm said he was innocent. He only went with Caffrey to get Mrs Seymour away. The Judge said the recommendation of mercy would he forwarded to the' authorities, but held out no hopo of mercy, as the murder was the most atrocious committed in the colony. He then assumed the black cap and in a solemn addresß pronounced the death sentence. Perm smiled, and bowed to the audience. Caffrey was equally unmoved .