THE OXFORD MURDER.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14408, 19 May 1917, Page 6

THE OXFORD MURDER.

BUTLEII FOUND GUILTY

THE PRISONER'S LOW MEN-

TALITI'

RECOaiMENDATION TO MJSRCY

[United Pkess Association.! *

n» x• -. , Ch.r|stohurch, May 18. Ihe trial of Charles Butler for the murder of Henrietta Louisa Foster at Oxford oh April Bth was concluded today, after lasting three days, the accused being found-guilty,-with a-strong recommendation to-mercy owing to his low mentality. . \. .- - - ' . • The defence did not -dispat-e^the fact ta'at the accused cause;d the death of the girl, but contended that his' act was not that of a lesponsible being, -he accused had been an inmate of a nienkil hospital for thirteen months some years ago, and his mother's sister ! had also been in an asylum. He had special delusions on sexual matters and would not believe naif a dozen doctors that he.had no venereal disease. The defence led evidence to establish the fact that the accused suffered from epileptic mania, and that he committed the crime in a paroxysm of epilepsy, and knew nothing of his action till afterwards. Evidence adduced for the Crown was to the effect that the accused xinderstood the nature of tho act and the quality of the act.

In .summing up, in traversing the medical evidence, Mr Justice Denniston said that lie could nob accept one statement—that at the time the accused was doing the deed he did not know he was doing it. A man must | know he was cutting a woman's throat in order to know how to use the razor, and m that sense therefore the statement was nonsense. In conclusion, His Honour said to the jury: "The facts are clear. It is a- homicide, and it will t>e a murder unless the accused, has satisfied you that he was insane at the i.n-jie he -committed the act, and did nob kno'n-' it-s' nature or quality, ar.d did not knoiv the act was wrong.*" In1 passing sentence of death, His Honour said: "You have been convicted aiter a trial in which every consideration has been given to you. With' the verdict of the jury, I think it right looiung at the nature of the case and us responsibilities upon the jury, to express my entire concurrence. 1 do not think it was possible under any possible circumstances for any other decision to be arrived- at than that which the jury have come to, with a strong recommendatioirto mercy owing'to your•low mentality. That recommendation, will be forwarded to the proper ■authorities.'".:; •■ ' ;•■■ ... ■■ " -..■■.:'•!