CLAPHAM MURDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10104, 16 March 1911, Page 2

CLAPHAM MURDER.

THE CASE FOR THE PROSECU* TION. - | United Press Association—By Electric TelegTaph—Copyright. . (Received March 16, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 15. In the Clapham Common murdej trial, counsel for the prosecution argued that Steiner Morrison's defence rested almost entirely on his own oath. Hii attack on witnesses suggested an - in qviiry into his own antecedents; henc< he was searchingly cross-examined. Tht prosecution contended that he was 4 practised burglar, and the instrumeni of death in this case was probably < jemmy. Regarding Morrison's story o| political revenge, Inspector Wensle] had testified that Beron did not giv< information concerning Houndsditcl murderers to the police.

The Judge, after consulting wit! counsel, agreed to admit fresh evidenci in the case. A constable stated that the'prisonel had been definitely charged with thi murder, which the police had hitherfr denied. STEINER MORRISON GUILTY,. SENTENCE OF DEATH PASSED. (Received March 16, 9.45 a.m.) The whole day was spent in Mr Jus tice Darling's searching inquiry into tin police treatment of Morrison. Constable Greaves gave evidence thai he wrote to Morrison's counsel in tht interests of justice, detailing what had occurred at the police station, and satf he had hesitated to speak earlier as hi did not desire to implicate' his col leagues. (Received March J. 6; 10.30 a.m.) Steiner Morrison, charged with tin murder of Beron, was found guilty an«' sentenced to death. MORRISON DEFIANT. (Received March 16, 1.5 p.m.) , Morrison stood with his arms folded and his head flung baok, and. gazed de fiantly at the foreman of the jury an<l the Judge. Then,, referring to tin closing invocation of the ; death sea tence, " and may God have mercy ofl your soul,' 1 he exclaimed, "I decliw such, mercy. I d'o not believe there ij a God in heaven!" On New Year's/Eve Nornel Beron. i French Jew, was found fatally stabbed on Clapham Common. A sensational feature of the case was that the lettei S was slashed with a knife on hii body. His brother was arrested, bui was soon discharged. : Subsequently a man named Steiner Morrison, who ha<l supped, with. Beron on New Year's Eye, was arrested on suspicion of having murdered Beron. It was supposed thai Beron had been murdered by order 6| a Nihilist organisation, but the evi dence failed to establish the theory. '