THE KAUANGAROA. MURDER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 146000, 5 December 1917, Page 2

THE KAUANGAROA. MURDER.

ALLEGED INSANITY OF BENNIER. INQUIRIES BEING MADE. PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. WANGANUI. Dec. 4. It is reported that an important development has occurred in the case of Frank Edward Bennier, sentenced to .death for murdering his wife at Kauangaroa on September 10. His counsel has received an urgent telegram from an up-country telegraph office in Nelson stating that evidence of former insanity on Bennier’s part could be given. This, if confirmed, would have an important bearing on the ease. At the trial Bennier’s counsel acknowledged that his chief difficulty was his lack of evidence of Bennier’s previous career. Immediate steps are being taken to test the accuracy of the latest communication, and the Minister of Justice has been already communicated with.

WELLINGTON, Deo. 4. The Justice Department has received a letter from Mr. C. E. Mackay, counsel for Bennier, who was condemned to death for tho Kauangaroa murder, stating that since the trial he had received information from a- justice l of the peace in the Nelson district that some time ago Bennier was insane. Mr. Mackay suggests that if this evidence had been available at tho trial it might have influenced the jury in their verdict, and he asks; therefore, that tho matter be investigated before the fate of Bennier is finally decided. An investigation will be made by the department.