MURDER AT PICTON

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18806, 30 November 1932, Page 7

MURDER AT PICTON

DEATH OF OLD MAN

* TARRANT FOUND GUILTY. death sentence passed. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) BLENHEIM. Tuesday. The Picton murder trial was concluded this afternoon, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty against Edward Tarrant and the death sentence was passed by Mr Justice B an. The' victim of the crime, which took place on November 3, 1931, was James Flood, an old man. His Honour, in summing up. said n was just 50 years since the last capital case in the Court in Blenheim, the last murder trial being in 18 <6The circumstantial evidence that Flood was murdered was overwhelming. There was evidence that the old man carried a wallet, and when Hie body was found the pooled which had held it was open and the wallet gone. This established the question of motive for the crime, and it was not disputed by the defence. The Crown’s case. His Honour said, depended upon a collection of a number of facts or circumstances to support the coniention that accused was ' guilty. Referring to accused’s statement, which he still adhered to, that he found deceased's wallet with the q money, His Honour said that should the ■rjury consider the story of finding the ' wallet unacceptable there was a significance which was to he attached to the fact tbal accused was In possession of money which might be inferred to be Flood’s money and Hie proceeds of a murderous robbery. His Honour said the defence was not an ’ affirmative one, but relied upon the alleged weakness of ihe Crown case as, : of course, it was entitled to do. 1 Tiie jury retired'at 11.35 a.m., and returned at 3.10 in ihe afternoon with a verdict of guilty. When asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed on him the prisoner stared blankly ahead and made no response. “He has not heard,” said His Honour, “ read to him again.”The registrar walked up to the dock and repeated the admonition in a clear voice. “ ! Never Did It." The prisoner murmured, “I never did it.” His Honour then donned the black cap and pronounced sentence of death. The Judge thanked the jury for their services. “It will be a satisfaction to you, perhaps,” he said, “ to know I fully concur in the verdict you have returned.”