THE PUKEKAWA MURDER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18021, 9 November 1920, Page 5

THE PUKEKAWA MURDER.

CHIEF JUSTICE REVIEWS THE CASE.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 8. In the course of his charge to the grand jury this morning on the various indictments for their consideration. his Honour the Chief Justice made special reference to the case in which Samuel John Thorn was accused of having murdered Sydney Seymour Eyre at Pukekawa on August 25. Addressing the Grand Jury his Honour said the evidence would show that Eyre did not commit suicide, but must have been killed by a shot through the window, fired by a left-handed man. Thorn, the accused man, it appeared, had been carrying on with Mrs. Eyre. He had not denied her statement to that effect. According to the evidence he was anxious that Eyre should be put out of the way, evidently having an attachment for Mrs. Eyre. After reviewing the points in the case, his Honour read certain evidence of alleged statements by Thorn, which the Judge said implied that Thorn was present and saw the murder, or that he knew who committed the murder, yet he did not choose to give an explanation of why he made those utterances. He might do so when he came before the jury. "Gentlemen,” concluded the Judge, "if that was not an admission, I do not know what an admission is.”