THE BERTRAND-KINDER CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 13

THE BERTRAND-KINDER CASE.

AN ALMOST FORGOTTEN CRIME.

RELEASE OF BERTRAND. Press Association— By Telegraph— Copyright. Sydney, June 17.

Memories of an almost forgotten crime have been revived by the decision of the Government to release to-morrow Louis Henry Bertrand, formerly a well-known dentist in Sydney, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 1866 for the murder of Mr Henry Kinder, principal teller in the City Bunk, but whose sentence was subsequently commuted to imprisonment for life. From the revolting circumstances connected with the murder, and from the position of the parties (Mrs Bertrand and Mrs Kinder aLo having been charged ia connection with the affair, but; liberated by the Attorneygeneral) concerned, tho case at the time was considered to be one of the causes eelehres of court business.

On October 2, 18(>5, Kinder died, and it was given out that he had committed suicide by shooting himself. At the ir quest deceased's wife gave evidence that Kinder had been urde- the influence of drink for some time, aod threatened to destroy himself, but subsequently suspicious circumstances caused the arrest of Mrß Kinder at Bathurst on a charge of murder. She was remanded, and at the same time Bertrand and his wife, intimate friends of the Kinders, were arrested on similar charges. Daring the trial details of a most atrocious character were adduced, including the diary of Bertrand and bundles of letters written almost daily by him to Mrs Kinder, leaving no doubt of the male prisoner's intention to get rid of Kinder, with whose wife he had formed a liaison. Kinder had evidently been drugged day after day, and finally despatched by a pistol, it being suggested that Bertrand placed the weapon in deceased's hand to lead to the supposition of suicide.

Mrs Bertracd was released, as it was clearly proved she acted in rear of her husband, who had used most terrible threats towards her, and that she had really no knowledge of the intended murder. Bertrand and Mrs Kinder were, however, in March 1866, placed on trial. The female prisoner was acquitted, and Bertrand sentenced to death. Most strenuous efforts were made by the prisoner's friends to secure a commutation of the sentence, and advantage was taken of evcy legal and technical point. Eventually the case was referred to the Privy Council, and after the lapse of two years the sentence was, on the ground of insanity, commuted to imprisonment for life. Bertrand, it may be said, wag in Kinder's company when the shot was fired, and alrtough at the time the wound was inflicted no darjger was anticipated, Kinder died four days later, and when the body was exhumed traces of poison weie found. \ Mi' 6 Kinder wa? a native of Auckland, and

it is said after her acquittal returned to New Zealand, where she remarried. Bertrand has been upwards of 28 years in gaol, which is the longest recorded life sentence in this