SENTENCED TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6965, 14 March 1884, Page 5

SENTENCED TO DEATH.

[by telegraph.— pbrss ASSOCIATES.] ■■■>:- Hokitika, Thursday : The case of murder againßt O'Donoughue was proceeded with to-day. The evidence of O'Grady, Hector, and Moller concluded the case for the Crown; Mr. Gainnes3, for the prisoner, called evidence. The Crown Prosecutor spoke for two hours, aud 3was followed by Mr. Guinness in a speech lasting one hour. The Judge summed up 'at length, reviewing the evidence. The':ju?y retirv.d at half-past five, and came into Court at half-past Bix, with a verdict of " Guilty." The prisoner, in answer to the usual que's-' tion, said:—"My Lord, I am innocent of the crime. Oh God, witness the murder about to take place, for I know I am to he sentenced to death. I shall meet the jurymen -vho have found me guilty above, aod then they will be able to say if I was guilty. I am a Roman Catholic, and if all the priests and bishops come to console me, In will tell them lam innocent. lam going to meet God, aud am not afraid to do so.'" The prisoner then said Constable Nash had told the truth, but he did not care about the other witnesses He then proceeded, " I shall go to my God, who alone knows I did uot commit the murder. I have been 15 years in New Zealand, and defy" any man. to say I served him a dirty trick. If ever I had any words with another man I stripped and had it out, and generally got a thrashing. I again «ay lam innocent. I Buppose 1 have only a short time to live. I would not commit the crime, nor would ataud by and see another commit it. 1 will say that the jury who have found me guilty, and the officials who helped them, will-not be long after me. I have no more to say, except to ask that what I have said may be remembered w hen I am lying rotting in my grave. lam innocent of the crime. Now, my Lord, you may proceed with your sentence." His Honor thenassumed the black cap, and passed sentence of dtath in the usual torm. The Court was crowded during the day, and intense interest was taken iu the proceedings. The prisoner preserved a collected demeanour throughout, showing no signs of nervousness.