THE BORDER MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19204, 21 June 1924, Page 9

THE BORDER MURDER

DOLDENBURG’S TRIAL ENDS

SENTENCED TO DEATH.

PRISONER'S VIOLENT OUTBURSTS

Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 19. Abraham Goldenbcrg was found guilty and sentenced to death. Tho accused pleaded not guilty, and his counsel announced that in tho event of a verdict of guilty he proposed to apply for an acquittal on the ground of insanity. - Constable Day gave evidence that when Goldenbcrg admitted tho crime he said ho would do it again for money. Witness denied that Goldenbcrg was excited at tho time or that he made rambling statements, but be admitted that he made strange statements. Superintendent Jones gave evidence that ho received an anonymous letter yesterday signed “M,” which declared that tho accused was innocent, as the writer had committed tho crime.

Tho judge and counsel received similar letters.

Goldenberg’s father gave evidence that when his son was a child he fell and injured his skull. Afterwards bo had a very strange manner and kept continually alone. When he enlisted he wrote asking forgiveness as his life had been a curse and everyone seemed to laugh at him.

During tho cross-examination of his father the accused arose in the dock and asked the judge to prevent counsel from asking questions concerning his relations with a girl. “Stop him from mentioning my girl’s name,” he said. “I would sooner hang than have her mentioned.’’ Throughout the hearing Goldenbcrg constantly interrupted the proceedings with violent outbursts.—Reuter.

Mr Hall, bank manager at Borden, was shot at the bank on April 4, and some days later Abraham Goldenbcrg, a lancecorporal in the East Lancashire Regiment (which was in camp at Borden) was arrested on a charge of murder. In an earlier statement the accused admitted his guilt, but later he told a story in which he alleged that the shooting had been done by a man named Meredith. A peculiar feature of the crime was that both Mr Hall and his wife had forebodings of tragedy.