THE SILVERSTREAM MURDER CASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11047, 26 February 1898, Page 6

THE SILVERSTREAM MURDER CASE.

PHILPOTT CONVICTED AND SEN-

'JL'ENCED TO DEATH.

(Fbom Qua Own Coeeespohdsnt.)

Wellington, February 2b After a 3.0 days' hearing in the Supreme Court, the trial o£' Prank Philpott, alias Stanhope, for the murder of his mute, Hawthorne, at Silverstream on the 7th September, w.ss l-iioughti to an end this evening, the jury finding the prisoner guiU.y after a retirement o£ i two hours and 20 minutes. The court was! densely crowded.^ 'She police had great diffi- j culty in ; ksepibg brder,. :ahd .' JErY.Uustiue ' Edwards complained of the noise made during | the remarks or counsel for. the, accused. ..' Just prior to hia Honor taking- his- seat, a free fight cccurrad in the women's gallery, j which was crowded with females, many of i whom had noS left the place all* day, Avid who | •were supplied with refreshments by , thair | frienfls who came ta witness the pronounce- : went of the aentence. ; Daring the proceedings■ j women were observed to be handing from one to another a glass conbiming some stimulant, which each one aippaa ant! passed on"; The • heat was intense,, and before it was all ov/ir bevoral women were cacried into theante-rcptos in a fainting coud;tion,._. The prisoner appeared.' erect before the warders ; and liaaintained a' smiliug ■viaage throughout, k^eoing &a espeßi?.l eye on the press gallery. He nevac moved a> muscle when the foremauof the jury replied "Guilty" in angWer to the usual charge by the registrar. He seemed to have anticipated the verdict, for he had a get speeca prepared."" Without a tremor in his voice ho thanked his counsel for the manner in which they had defended hitni and, then esprassed hrs forgiveness , of' those who'had given evidence against one whom he declared before God to ba an innocent man. Addressing the prisoner, his Honor expressed the opiniem that he b?,d been justly convicted, »nd then passed sentence of deata" His Honoi: taused some seusatiou by referring ta the jfcricturss made by Mr Jellicoe on tho evidencft given by certain witnssses. He.said he looked upon the innuendoes tbioim out agaiust these people as most unjust, and added that "counsel for *;he defence appears to forget that as thera arc" assassins of tho knife and pi3toi that assail the body there ere also asaaS3ino oi; the tongue who assail tho character." The trial was marked by a number of sharp passages between concxsl and judge, and, tho latter having promiss.'l on one occasion to "deal with Mr Jdiiooe afterwards," his pointed remarks vrw.e not altogether un•«pscted.