THE BALFOUR MURDER CASE.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 116, 27 September 1895, Page 3

THE BALFOUR MURDER CASE.

CLOSE OF THE TRIAL,

KEOWN SENTENCED TO DEATH.

Invercargill, Fopt. 25

The trial of John Keown, who is charged with the murder of Hugh Stewart at Balfour, was continued in the Supreme Com-i to-day, before Mr Justice Williams. A number of witnesses were called to prove that Keown had a fall from a horse six years ago, and had never been the same man since. Evidence was given as to various eccentricities, and also that he had since been given greatly to drinking.

Ills wife stated that he had sometimes armed himself with a pickaxe and butcher’d knife to attack men whom he supposed were stealing Ins crops, the staled that he had two or three times tied his horse up by the leg and stabbed and brutally beaten it, also that he had stabbed his sou James, and that one of the accused’s sons had been in an asylum, The defence was directed to allowing that Keown, since a full on the head six years ago, had been subject to tits of violei ce, delusions and melancholia, which were aggravated by excessive drinking. It was deposed that Keown had been known to drink two gallons of whisky in five days, that he had stabbed his own horses, tied up their logs, and left them without food for days, and had denied all knowledge of having done such things. Dr James Young, formerly Superintendent of the Auckland Asylum, said that such a thing as alcoholic insmity was recognised, and that in some cases injuries to the head would make the subject more susceptible to the influence of alcohol. He should say that Keown had been at the time of the tragedy suffering from acute alcoholic insanity, which was a very dangerous kind of lunacy. Ho was . sure of that now. Dr McLeod, gaol surgeon, was also of opinion, after examination, that Keown w’as not of sound mind. The trial concluded at .5 p m., and after deliberating two and a half j hours, the jury returned into Court with a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. His Honor pronounced sentence of death, and in doii g so said that the recommendation of the jury, looking at the prisoner’s previous history, might not be altogether unreasonable, and in the course of his duty he would intimate that opinion to the proper authorities, His Honor sincerely asked and recommended Keown not to place too great confidence in the jury’s recommendation.