Sentenced to Death

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 250, 28 February 1911, Page 5

Sentenced to Death

THE PARAKAE CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY. MRS. CASH KILLED IN HER BEDROOM. HUSBAND FOUND GUILTY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The trial of Albert Cash, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Charlotte Sarah Cash, at Parakae, near Helensville, ou December 25 last, was concluded to-day. The defence, as already stated, was on the grounds of insanity. Several medical practitioners gave evidence to-day, but their views did not altogether coincide on the subject of the prisoner's mental condition. His Honor occupied a few minutes over an hour in summing lip. He told the jury that their verdict must be one of guilty of murder, or one of not guilty on the ground of insanity. The law deemed everyone to be sane, at the time of the commission of an act, and the question here was whether or not .the prisoner was insane when he killed his wife. If the jury found that defence established, tney were entitled to acquit on the grounds of lunacy. They had to determine whether the degree of mental weakness which, according to the evidence of some of the witnesses, and n the opinion of some of the medical men, commenced some time ago with the prisoner, had advanced to «uch a degree that on December 25 there suddenly arose a mental condition which resulted in this act. If so, the prisoner was not responsible for that act, but a man charged with such a crime had to establish to the satisfaction of the jury that he was incapable of understanding the nature and quality of his act, and Ihat he committed it in a paroxysm of homicidal mania which deprived him of any mental power to appreciate the nat'ire of his act. His Honor trusted the verdict the jury gave would satisfy their consciences. •In reply to Mr. Tolo, I'is Honor said that if the jury was satisfied that the prisoner was of sound mind, the crime could not be reduced to manslaughter. The jury retired at 6.5 p.m., and at 0.50 returned to Court with a verdict sf "Guilty, witli a strong recommendation to mercy." The recommendation to mercy was given on the ground that the prisoner had received provocation. When called upon to state whethir he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed upon him, the prisoner made no annver.' His Honor: Prisoner at the bar, the jury have found you guitfy of the crime of murder, with a stroig re.»cmiiiii'nJation to mercy. With that r-vomm.'nda-tion I entirely agree. I shall sec that it is sent to the proper authorities. In the meantime (assuming the black cap), I order that you be taken to the place of execution, and there be hanged by the neck until you are dead. Cash turned round in a dazed kind of way, and, assisted by the warders, walked slowly,down the stairs. His sobs could be heard in the Court for some minutes after he had passed out of sight. .'' : . . ,

STORY OF THE CRIME. Cash is a man about forty-five years of age, and his wife was about four years younger.. They kept a boardinghouse on the outskirts of the Helensville township, and at the time of the tragedy some friends were staying with them. About 5.30 p.m. Cash and his wife had an altercation and retired to their bedroom, where they were heard quarrelling subsequently! Becoming alarmed, the visitors attempted to open the bedroom door, and finding it locked, burst the door open. They discovered a fearful scene. Mrs. Cash lay dead upon the floor with her throat cut, and Cash beside her, also with a bad gash in his throat. He had in his possession a razor, which was seized, and he was prevented from doing himself further injury. Cash and his wife had only opened the boarding-house about a week previously. Jealousy is said to have been the cause of the tragedy, Mrs. Cash not being able' to satisfy her husband with" an explanation concerning some correspondence she had had with another man.