THE PETONE MURDERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11226, 25 March 1897, Page 5

THE PETONE MURDERS.

BOSHER’S TRIAL. [Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON. March 24. It will be remembered that on the bodies of the Jones’s, murdered at Petone, a large quantity of pepper was found, and in connection with this Mr Bell, the Crown prosecutor, after the jury had delivered their verdict, and before they left the box, said be would like to tell them of one fact which would lighten their minds. A tin °f pepper had been bought from the Jones’s by the man who had just been sentenced, as an entry in Mr Jones’s hook had shown ; and that was evidently the tin which had been found on the table, as it could not be found in Bosher’s house. According to a narrative of Bosher’s career, published by the Posi, the convict’s real name was Etienne Jean Brocher, which would account for the fact that he used to be known in Akaroa as Brusher. He is believed to have been born about 1857 in Belfort. He first became known to the police in Timaru in 1874, when a charge of theft was dismissed. Next year he got eighteen months for forgery. He then went to Akaroa, where he married his first wife in 1878. In 1882 he disappeared, after borrowing a horse and saddle, which he sold in Lyttelton. A warrant is still out against him for this, but the witnesses are not now available. Until he returned in 1890 nothing is known, but his own account, already published, that he was forced to serve among the dmes damnes of the French army in Algiers. On returning he telegraphed to his wife, asking whether he should go hack to her, and she replied, “No,-never.” Her own description of him is :—My husband is the sort, of man who, if he knew a man had money in his house, would make friends of him, and then take every means to get it. One who did not know him would think him genuine, but he is a bad lot.” Although the jury were out so long, it is stated that eleven were in favour. The other objected to capital punishment, and the time was spent bringing him round to the views of the majority. No comment is made on the fact, but it is very noticeable that Bosher, when asked if he had anything to say before sentence was pronounced, made no protestation of innocence. In case it may be wondered that the Crown Prosecutor’s final statement about the pepper was never placed before the jury, it should be explained that, legally, it was not evidence. Other entries in Jones’s books of purchases by the prisoner were adduced during the trial because Bosher himself admitted them, hut this one could not, and no corroborative evidence could be obtained.