RUAWARO MURDERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 157, 5 July 1934, Page 6

RUAWARO MURDERS

APPEAL ON BEHALF OF BAYLY. [ Per Press Association, j AUCKLAND, July 3. Consultations have been proceeding on the question of an appeal on behalf of William Alfred Bayly, the 28-ycar-old Ruawaro farmer now under sentence of death for the murder of his neighbours, Samuel Pender Lakey and Cristabel Lakey, but so far no decision has been announced. Since the sentence of death was pronounced by Air. Justice Herdman on Juno 23 after a trial extending over five weeks, Bayly has been visited at Alount Eden Prison by close relatives, while ho has been devoting some of his time to reading. He has played draughts with the warders assigned to guard him. Ho has been on consistently friendly terms with the officials. During any interview with Bayly a warder is always in attendance, and a guard in his cell is maintained night and day. One .visitor to Bayly was requested to sec whether it would be possible to provide a crossword puzzle. Bayly has been visited daily by the ehaplain of the Mount Eden Prison, the Rev. G. E. Aloreton. It is required that the documents relating to Bayly’s conviction should be forwarded to the Afinister of Justice, the Hon J. G. Cobbc. The report of the trial Judge and copies of the evidence are to be circulated among members of the Executive Council, and after each member has perused the papers a special meeting will be held to consider whether the sentence should be confirmed or commuted. In the Ruawaro case the evidence if voluminous. Should the sentence of the Court not be interfered with, it must be carried out within seven days of notification to the sheriff.