THE POOK MURDER CASE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXI, Issue 6365, 29 March 1889, Page 2

THE POOK MURDER CASE.

Verdict of Guilty.

Sentence of Death Passed.

(Ey Telegraph-Press association)

Gisborne. last night, This morning when tho Court opened, Mr Gully summed up the evidence for tho prosecution. He addresaod tho jury eloquently for an hour. Mr Kenny proposed to call no evidence and addressed the jury on behalf of Hie prisoner pointing out the places whore lack of evidence and othor discrepancies occurred, 'Ho impressed upon thorn that unless they had tho clearost evidence they should not bring in a verdict that would cause tho prisoner to bo hanged.

Mr Justico Richmond likoned the evidence to a bundle of stickn, the buudlo might bo broken stick by stick, but not tho wholo. It was a strange case, it did not depend on single facts but on the whole corresponding. The boot and footprint might alone be sufficient to warrant a conviction. Mr Kenny had given up tho contention that tho prisoner took tho inland route, admitting' that he took tho beacli road past Maiuiku. His Honor carefoily roviowod tho evidonce as to the blood murks, on the clothing, prisoner's demeanour, and conversation in gaol, aud other points in tho evidence. Ho asked did tho evidence leave their minds without a ( reasonable doubt that the prisoner was guilty.

At 1.30. tho jury rotiied, and at 4.45 brought in a verdict of guilty: The prisoner had nothing to say why sentence of doath should Dot bo passed on him. His Honor said, tho evidence on the whole satisfied the jury and hiuisolf that the- p isoner was guilty of murder, a conviction largely brought about by bis own countrymen and relations.

His Honor then put on the black cap and passed the usual sentence of death.

The prisoner never giivo any expression of emotion throntjhout tho sentence, nnd walked calmly away to gaol. 1 He will bo takea lo Napier for execution,