CHARGE OF MURDER
. i» THE WAIRONGOMAI TRAGEDY. ACCUSED ACQUITTED. (Pee United Pbess Association.) GISBORNE, September 19. _ Mi , Justice Hoiking this morning delivered a lengthy summing up in the case against Frank Inkster. His Honor eaid the jury had to be satisfied that a murder had been committed, and, if so, whether the accused (Frank Inkster) was the guilty person. It was for tho Crown to establish the case, not for the prisoner to establish: his innocence. The conclusion originally arrived at (that it was a case of murder and suicide) had resulted in there not being the i thorough investigation one would expect in a case of murder. In murder cases they usually had to_ rely on circumstantial evidence. Tlho prisoner, bo'far as w?is known, wus the kst person seen with the two deceased, and, according to his statement, he came down to get a pack ihorse for Andersen. There was nothing of the deceased's found on the accused, and it was on his subsequent conduct that they wero asked to judge tho case. His Honor oloeoly reviewed tho evidence as to accused's demeanour, and also dealt wih the question of motive. After half an hour's retirement tho jury returned with a verdict of "Not guilty."
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17114, 20 September 1917, Page 6
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206CHARGE OF MURDER Otago Daily Times, Issue 17114, 20 September 1917, Page 6
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