WHANGAREI MURDER CASE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 16, 5 September 1914, Page 4

WHANGAREI MURDER CASE

MAMMON SENTENCED, TO DEATH

[Pee Press Association.] Auckland, September 4

In the charge of wife murder brought against Daniel Hamraon, of Whangarei, in the Auckland Supreme Court to-day before Air Justice Cooper, the accused pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor (the Hon. J. A. Tole) in opening the case, briefly outlined the story of the tragedy. He described how the accused and his wife quarrelled on account of the man nob working, and how the disagreement terminated in a frenzied attack upon the woman with an axe in the kitchen of the boardinghouse in the early hours of Tuesday, July 21st. When the accused was found by the police on the top of a timber stack, he declared that he had committed the crime “for the children’s sake.”

The defence raised the question of the sanity of the accused.

Prior to coming to Whangarei, Hamrnon had suffered a series of misfortunes, following upon his-long and dangerous illness. First his stock, and then his farm, had to be sold, and since, that he had been unable to work. This lyad preyed .on his piind. Cpuusel enumerated the relatives of the accused who * had been mentally defective.

The,Jury retired for, about two hours* bHlining in a verdi ot,'of ‘guijty ? jyy ith , A strong recommendation ,to‘ mercy.', G ' His Honor said he Voujd'forward fcije 1 reepniineniiitioii to the,proper' quarter, ' and' then 'passed the death sentence.'" The ciise lasted until late -m the evening. ' 3 ■■ -■ 1 1 ■