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A CONVICTION QUASHED.
As a result of an interesting argument in
the Full Court on Tuesday Blanche Wat
son, who had been convicted of manslaugh
ter at Mount Gambier last month, was
granted Her lreedom. The halt-caste girl
was charged in Circuit Court with having
murdered her infant child, but Mr. Justice
Gordon told the jury that it was compe
tent for them to bring in a verdict of man
slaughter, which they did. Defending coun
sel (Mr. Spehr) submitted that the deci
sion was bad in law, as it was a case of
'murder or nothing,' and at his request
the Judge deferred sentence, and reserved
the point for the opinion of the Full
Court. On Tuesday Mr. MeLacliIan took
up tlie south-eastern counsel's argument
strongly, and though the contention was
opposed by tlie Crown Solicitor and Mr.
Justice Gordon, a majority of the Bench
ruled that the verdict was bod. 'Tlie
Judge was well advised in reserving tlie
question,' said the Chief Justice, in giving
judgment, 'and although J regret being
compelled to differ from him as to the
quality of the facts, I have come to tlie
conclusion that on the evidence the jury
were not justified in convicting the accused
of manslaughter.'' Mr. Justice Homburg
was also against his colleague.
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