ONEWHERO MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 84, Issue 13188, 31 May 1915, Page 4

ONEWHERO MURDER.

VERDICT OF GUILTY.

PRISONER SENTENCED TO DEATH By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Monday. It was not until 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon that the jury found a verdict of guilty against Norman Edwin Keals at the Supreme Co art on the charge of having murdered Mrs Edith Emma Keals and her infant at Onewhero last February. The Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., conducted for the Crown, and Mr J. Martin, with Mr J. B. Johnstone appeared for the prisoner. The jury retired at 11.45 am., and returned into Court four hours later, when the foreman announced that they had not agreed. "Do you think there is any chance of your agreeing ?"• asked his Honor the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout; "or is there anything I can do to help you in any way?" "I do not think so, your Honour," replied the foreman. "It would not be desirable I should say anything." His Honor: 'Perhaps you may agree if you retire for another half-hour." The jury accordingly retired, but returned into Court at 4 p.m. The Registrar asked: "Have you agreed upon your verdict?" Foreman: "We have, Guilty!" Amid deathlike .silence his Honor ; in a low voice -said: "Prisoner at the bar. I have now to pronounce one of the most solemn sentences that can be pronounced by one man upon another, and in doing so I shall follow the form laid down by statute." His Honor then assumed the black cap and said: "It is that you be raken from this place to gaol, and from thence to the place of execution, and that you be there hanged by the neck until jou be dead." Turning to the jury, his Honor said, "Gentlemen of the jury, I have to thank you for the service you have rendered to the country. You are now discharged."