MURDERER'S FATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 13

MURDERER'S FATE

THE CLAVERLEY CASE [by telegraph—own correspondent] CIIRISTCHURCII, Friday

The Government lias not yet decided the fate of Arthur John Patience, who was sentenced to death 011 October 31 for the wilful murder of his wife, Harriet Jane Patience, at Claverley, in October of last year. Ministers of the Crown are now perusing all the papers associated with the case, after which tho Cabinet will bw asked to decide whether Patience will hang, or whether there will bo a commutation of the sentence.

Patience was found guilty by the jury, with a strong recommendation to mercy. There is no limit 011 the time that can elapse between the sentence and the date of execution, if that is decided on. The only limit is that of seven days between the time the sheriif of tiie Court receives the warrant for execution and the actual hanging. Members of the Cabinet have received tho papers during the last few davs. They are now considering the evidence, and it will bo at least a week before the Cabinet can make its decision. It is likely, according to official indications, that the decision will take longer than a week. Then the Executive Council makes the final decision. It is well known, incidentally, that it baj been the policy of the Labour Government, so jar, not to hang a murderer. Thero*has been commutation of sentence of death in every case that has come before this Government, irrespective of any recommendation from the jur;\