MANLY GUILTY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1930, Page 13

MANLY GUILTY

DEATH SENTENCE PASSED MURDER OF MISS CROMARTY PLEA OF INSANITY FAILS COMMENT FROM THE JUDGE ' By Telegraph.—Tress Association. Wanganui, Last Night. Found guilty of the murder of Gladys Cromarty Herbert Frederick Manly was to-day sentenced to death. The. court was densely packed this morning during the final stages of the trial. Hundreds were waiting outside the main door long before 10 o’clock. Mr. W. J. Treadwell (counsel for accused) in his address spoke for two and a-half hours and suggested insanity in Manly’s action. He asked the jury not to find him not guilty of murder but to find him insane. The Chief-Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in his address to the jury said it appeared from the evidence, and he could not help referring to it, that the photograph of accused was published in the newspapers while the police were investigating in this ease. Fortunately no harm had been done because it was clear. and was admitted that accused was the person who actually killed the

girl. The question of killing was another matter. Supposing there had been any question of identity and the person who committed the act had been seen

leaving the premises? The publication of the photograph of accused might have dene incalculable harm and might have defeated the interests of 'justice. rM. Treadwell had said in his address, and his Honour did not stop him, that other material had been published and a cable from England relating to accused. His Honour hoped that such, a thing would never happen again. His Honour said the jury might find It possible to bring in a verdict of manslaughter but'he did not think so and in that case there would be only two possible verdicts; that accused was guilty or that he was not guilty on the grounds of insanity. The jury retired at 12.55- p.m. and returned at 4.5 p.m. with a verdict of guilty. His Honour said that .after a very fair trial in which Manly had been ably defended he had been found guilty of a ciimo for which there was only one penalty. Manly when asked if he had anything to say said in a low, husky voice, “It was never at any time premeditated.” Donning the black cap His Honour passed the death, sentence.