The Wellington Murder Trial.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 44, 31 May 1907, Page 4

The Wellington Murder Trial.

SENTENCE OF DEATH, At the Wellington Supreme Court Claude Paget was, after a long trial, found guilty of having murdered Eleanor Pearl Axup. After Mr T. M. Wilford (for the prisoner) had pleaded his case, and Mr Myers (for the Grown) had replied, his Honour the judge summed up in an address lasting an hour and a half. It was anticipated that the jury's deliberations would occupy some hours, but after an absence of an hour they returned to Court, and the Foreman intimated that they were agreed upon their verdict. It was a verdict of guilty, with the following rider : —" After hearing the medical evidence the jury are of opinion that the accused, Claude Paget, is an epileptic, and that he was in one of the stages of epilepsy at the time of committing the deed, and therefore strongly recommend him to the clemency of the Crown.” In answer to a question by his Honour, the Foreman said that the jury's finding meant that Paget knew he was responsible for his act. Then followed what seemed a lengthy period of oppressive silence, while the Registrar entered the necessary record in the official book, after which the Court crier called on all to keep silence while the death penalty was pronounced, and the Registrar commanded prisoner to speak if he had anything to say as to why sentence of death should not be pronounced upon him. Paget, outwardly calm and undisturbed, ariswered nothing. Mr Justice Cooper then prepared to pronounce the death sentence, and just as he was putting on his black cap a woman in the gallery gave a moan and fell heavily to the floor of the gallerv, where she lay insensible until carried 'out. The sentence having been passed, prisoner was removed from the dock, and the crowd thronged into the lobbies, In the lobby a painful scene occurred, when Mr Wilford and a relative of Paget cursed the jurymen for bringing in a verdict of guilty in the face of the evidence, Mr Wilford, who was in a very excitable frame of mind, made use of some exceptionally strong terms, and had to be called to order by the Sheriff of the Court. It is understood that_ more will be heard of the matter, possibly at the instance of the Crown, Later. Claude Paget, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Eleanor Axup, is not to suffer }he extreme penalty of the law. Cabinet, after giving full consideration to the recommendation of the jury that the prisoner was an epileptic, and was in one of the stages of epilepsy when he committed the murder, advised the Governor to commute the sentence. This has been done, and Paget is to be imprisoned for the term of his natural life.