SENTENCED TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14924, 23 February 1912, Page 8

SENTENCED TO DEATH.

PECULIAR MELBOURNE CRIME. A QUESTION OF SANITY. At the Criminal Court, Melbourne, c*. Thursday, February 15, Joseph Victor Pfeffer (32), a butcher's assistant, wis charged with having, on December 12, at Albert Park, murdered Florence Victoria , Whitley (23), a domestic servant, and sister, in-law of the accused. -'■ ,"; The Crown Prosecutor stated that the murdered girl had, for three or four year prior to the tragedy, been living at accused'! house. During lunch hour on December 12 i?f: offer clambered over the back gate of I Mrs. Kennett's house in Mill-street, Albert Park, and made his way to the kiteujo, whore the maid and her mistress were seated at the table together. Then the accused shot > the girl. Evidence in support of the Crown we was given by a number of witnesses, and accused mado a statement from the dock. He said: "From when I woke up oaths morning of the murder until I saw the police I remember nothing of what happened. I have my brother here in Court. ' Ho has wandered out of his mind and has roamed about the country in that condition for three weeks before being arrested at Geelong. "I had an accident before I went to the war, and was laid up in the hospital;. for a fortnight. While in South Africa I had several bullet wounds, and was'hurt inwardly through the fall of a horse. Another time,' when taken prisoner, 1 was hit on the head with tho butt end of a rifle, and have since suffered from head- , 'aches off and on, and I really think there are times when I don't know what I am doing. i "lhero was insanity on my father's side and on my mother's. One of my relatives hanged himself, another shot himself, ami my brother has been in a lunatic asylum for Eomo years. I do not remember anything at all about the murder.", After rather more than an hour's retirement the jury returned with a verdict of guilty, adding a rider expressing regret that ■ in view of the character of the defence no evidence had boon brought forward to establish the question of accused's sanity. , Mr. Woinarski said the Crown was in a position to rebut any evidence of that kind that, might have been brought forward. His Honor, said he would take a note or tho jury's rider. He then passed sentence of death upon V accused. • / ;^''-: 5;B ;: , . -vfesS'