TORONTO MURDER

Grey River Argus, 1 July 1925, Page 5

TORONTO MURDER

TRIAL OF OAKES. PRISONER’S STORY. SYDNEY, June 29. The trial of Oakes for the murdei at Toronto, near Newcastle, of a girl with whom he went through the form of marriage, being himself already married, has commenced. Oakes plead ed not guilty. In his opening address, the Crown Prosecutor said the Crown ease was *that there had been a cold, calculated callous murder, probably without equal in the annals of Australian crime. He then detailed the evidence previously cabled. Pathetic scenes were witnessed when the father and mother of the dead girl took the witness stand to testify against the accused, both breaking down badly, but each -was able to identify Oakes as the man who married their daughter. Oakes, giving evidence, said that the dead girl had known him slightly over a year. He had taken her to parties and had her to visit him at his home while his wife was absent in Sydney. Then he said that after his •‘marriage” with the girl, she told him that she was in a certain condition. After they had some wine at the cottage at Toronto, she twitted him that he was responsible for that condition, and asked him what he would do if she told his wife. Accused added that with the wine he became raving mad,’ and did not know what he did afterwards. When he woke up in the morning, he was lying alongside the body. When he saw the horrible sight, he said: "Oh God! What have I done?” Continuing, lie said that hl. had gone through the wedding service only for the purpose of protecting the girl, lie did not intend to injure her, and he sacrificed his life in doing so. OAKES SENTENCED TO DEATH. (Received Jun e 30 at 10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY. June 30. Mrs Oakes gave evidence that Oakes had always been good to her, and to the children, but she said he was childish and easily led. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. The Chief Justice, in sentencing Oakes to death, said that, the way he had hacked his unfortunate victim showed extraordinary brutality and incredible inhumanity.