The Petone Murder.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8619, 25 March 1897, Page 3

The Petone Murder.

BOSHER'S PREVIOUS OABEGR*

(Peb Press AflsooiATioir) Wbixingtov, March 24. According to. the narrative of Bosher's career, published ia the Post, the convict's real name was Etienna Jean Brocher, which would account 1 for the fact that he used to be known in Akaroa as Bronsher. He is believed to haTe been born about 1857 in Uelfort. He first becamo known to the police in Thnaru in 1874, when a charge of theft was dismissed. Next year he got 18 months for forgery, and ho then went to Akaroa, where he married his first wife, in 1878. In 1882 he disappeared ftfter borrowing a horse and saddle, which he sold in LyUelton. A warrant is atil{out against him for this, but witnesses arc not now avail* able. TXntil he returned in , 1890 nothing is known of him, but his own account already published shows that he was forced to serve among the antes damnet* of the French army in Algiers. On returning he telegraph**! to his wife asking whether he should go back to her, and she replied," No, never." Her own description of him is: " My husband is a sort of man who if he knew a man had money in his house would mike friends with him and then take every means to get it One who did not know him would think him genuine, but he is a bad lot." Although the jury were out so long it is stated eleven were in favor and the other objected to capital punish* went, and the time was spent in bringing him round to the views of the majority. No comment is made on the fact, but it. is very noticeable, that Bosher when asked if he had anything to say before sentence was pronounced made no protestation of innocence. In case it may be wondered that the' Crown Prosecutor's final statement about pepper was never placed before th« jury it should be explained that legally it was not evidence. Other entries in Jones' books of the pur« chases by the prisoner were adducfd during the trial because Bosher himself admitted them, but this one he would not, and no corroborative evidence could be adduced.., . ;