MR WILFORD'S ADDRESS.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8618, 24 March 1897, Page 2

MR WILFORD'S ADDRESS.

(Per Press Association) Wellington, March 23. Mr Wilford, counsel for Bosher, began his address to the jury this morning by pointing out that several facts adduced by the Crown, which appeared to convict the accused, were capable of explanation which should weigh with the jury. He declared that the actions of the accused on the night of the murder were consistent with innocence, as he had purchasud butter which was wanted by his wife, taken a book which had been promised to a lady and other minor matters, which counsel considerd wonld not have been done by a man about to commit a diabolical murder. A further proof in accused's favor was that the last credit entry in the books of the murdered man was a purchase made by Bosher, and he challenged the jury to think that any man, who intended perpetrating a crime would allow such an entry, Mr Wilford argued that cash would have then been paid, so as to remove any knowledge of a visit to the store. Regarding the scratch on his hand and to the torn pocket in his coat he thought tb«* jury would agree that Bosher's statements that the former had been done while getting through a wire fence to feed a horse and the latter while getting into

a cart were correct. Aa to the accused's statement that he went to to *n on the morning after the murder to get Testaments which the Crown alleged were already in accused's possession, Mr Wilford said the evidence showed that Bosher was to take three Testaments to Taita, As he had only two in his possession it was quite feasible for Bosher to call on Jones for the other books. Again, he urged that as regards the foot print, on the back doorstep, a point in prisoner's favor .was that on its discovery he ?aid, "It must be mine, I was in there this-morn-ing." Counsel added that Mrs Atkinson, who was the first to discover the bodies when Bosher failed to make anybody hear, was not sure whether Bosher entered the. house with her, but other evidence pointed to the fact that he had been in, and on the question as to which boots he wore on the night of the murder, and next morning there was a good deal of uncertainty. As to the robbery he said the hou3e had been ransacked and he asked, was it likely, if, as suggested by the Crown, that the prisoner's motive was to obtain money, that he would not have known the habits of the deceased, especially as he was in the habit of visiting them and would have been aware where the money was kept. His theory was that the crime was the work of strangers. All Bosher'a movements after the murder, such as going about his work as usual, sleeping well, etc., were consistent with the theory of innocence, and as to the knife, -what was more likely than that a man, who knew he was suspected and had been worried by the police, would, from fear, hide the weapon, though he had nob committed the crime. Regarding the evidence'that. Bosher was anxious that his name should not appear in print, coutisel explained it was possibly due to the fact that he had contracted a bigamous marriage and that the announcement of his whereabouts would lead to unpleasant results. Mr Wilford then proceeded to analyse the evidence. i Mr Wilford's address occupied three hours. The judge sums up this afternoon

Later. Judge Edwards occupied four hours in summing up on the Petone murder case, and the jury retired at 6 p.m.