A CHARGE OF MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9308, 11 March 1889, Page 5

A CHARGE OF MURDER.

THE CASE OF THOS. WALKER, SPIRITUALIST.

Sydney, March 9. In the Assembly last night papers were laid on the table in connection with the case of Thos. Walker, recently elected member for Northumberland, against whom a verdict of murder was recorded thirty years ago by a coroner's jury in Toronto. In accordance with instructions from Sir Henry Parkes in 1887, a police inquiry was made into the matter. The papers show that Walker, who was a spiritualist, arranged with a friend named Saunders to have a private spiritualistic seance, and during the investigation some phosphorus ignited. Saunders was burned, and the injuries were so great that he died therefrom. Walker absconded, and a verdict of murder was returned against him by a coroner's jury. In replying to inquiries made by the police, the Canadian Government said that owing to the lapse of time, and the death of witnesses and the coroner, they did not feel justified in applying for Walker's extradition ; that, further, it did not appear whether the facts proved at the inquest were sufficient to establish a case. Walker states that the matter was raked up for the purpose of endeavouring to ruin his political life. He explains that the death of Saunders was accidental, and was the result of experimenting with phosphorous. The verdict of the jury was disgraceful. He never evaded justice. On the contrary, he informed the Canadian police of his whereabouts.