The Pomahaka Murder.

Hastings Standard, Issue 113, 5 September 1896, Page 2

The Pomahaka Murder.

MATSON GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER. SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS. Dunedin, Sept., 4. The trial of Carl Matson on the charge of murdering his wife in February last was concluded to-day. Hannah Bertha Claris was one of the witnesses to-day. Her evidence was much to the same effect as the statement by the prisoner to ConataMtjJfc Broberg. Mrs Matson had pressed her to stay at the place, and declared she would not remain if Clark went away. When Mrs Matson went away witness returned to Matson's as housekeeper, not to live with him. Mr Solomon addressed the jury at length for the defence, contending that the Crown had not proved how the women died, and having failed to prove that Matson killed her they must acquit him. Justice Williams having summed up, the jury after a retirement of an hour and a half returned a verdict of manslaughter. The Judge deferred passing sentence till next day. This Day. Mr Solomon asked for a mitigation of the sentence an Matson on the grounl that the verdict expressly excluded the notion that the woman was put into the river, except for the purposes of cancealment after the result of the blow struck during an unpremeditated quarrel. He also asked the Court to draw an analogy between the present case and Mullanys, in which four months was given for an assault committed with a more serious weapon also in a quarrel, and which euded in death. The Judge said there was not the slightest analogy between the two cases. Matson's manslaughter was a kind of manslaughter very nearly approaching murder. It was quite out of the question to inflict any but a severe punishment, which was twelve years" hard labor.