ONEWHEO TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2396, 27 February 1915, Page 8

ONEWHEO TRAGEDY

HEALS IN COURT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (By Telojraph.—Prets Association.) Auckland, February 26. The adjourned proceedings arising out of tie alleged murder of. Mrs. Edith Emma Keals, wife of a settler, and of her infant child, at Onewhero, ..n February 8, were continued this morning at the Police Court. The inquest into the causes of death and the charges of murder preferred against Norman . Edwin Keals, the bro-ther-in-la\v of the deceased woman, were taken simultaneously in adjoining rooms,_ the evidence being exaotly the same in each case.

Mr. C. E. Cutten, S.M., sat as Coroner. and Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., as Magistrate, hearing the charges of murder. Mr.. Selwyn Mays, AssistantCrown Prosecutor, appeared on behalf of the Department of Justice, and SubInspector M'llveney represented the Police Department. Further particulars insoribed on the charge sheet showed that accused is New Zealand born, 29 years of age, and a Baptist by religion. In outlining the case against accused Mr. Mays saad that two kinds of evidence would be produced, evidence of direot facts and evidence of a motive or reason for the crime. The evidence of the tragedy was clear and terminated in a full confession by . accused. The evidence relating to mental efficiency would go back over a period of fifteen years. In his confession, to Sub-In-speotor M'llveney the accused himself supplied the motive. That motive seemingly crossed his mind about 18 months ago, while he was in Sydney. Eeturniug from Sydney in May of 'last year; he remained until the present month on his father's farm at Papakura. The father would givo evidence showing that 15 years ago he bought the Onewhero property and made a verbal arrangement to divide it between his three sons. The accused worked on this back-blocks property for about five years, and the loneliness appeared to' have'had some effect" on • him, as it would be shown by certain letters. Certain things whioh happened before he went to Sydney caused the father to alter his decision respecting the accused's share in the Onewhero property, but not -wishing to cut him out altogether, he decided to give him a share in the Papakura property. . Counsel contended that the state of facts'in the accused's mind did not amount to a delusion, but actually existed, and as he put it, he set out to some day . have revenge. Whether that was in his mind'within the past five weeks they did not. know. At anyrate, said Mr. Mays, the man vas not insane when he Bet' out on February 4 to commit this terrible tragedy. Counsel added that : letters found. at Onewhero on the day before the aooused was arrested, were- extraordinary productions which might or might not provide evidence of lis mental state. Another letter which he had written while at Onewhero was headed "Sunnvside Asylum." . ; After . the of accused had given evidence at length, Leslie William Keals fiaid the -accused was his brother and the deceased, Edith' Emma Keals, was his wife. She was 31 years of age, and the infant was six weeks, old. On the morning of February '8 he departed from the farm at Onewhero at about 7 a.m., leaving his wife and family with a help named Sophia Hunter and a cadet named Cyril Wells. He attended the Pukekohe Bhcep fair,. and was returning on the 9th when he received news that something had happened at his, home.' When he reached there he found'his wife with her head bandaged; and was informed that the baby was missing. His wife died at Auckland Hospital nest day; Witness stated that he and the'accusd had always been friendly. Asked if he desired to question the witness accused calmly replied: "No, I don't wish to ask-him 'any questions." Sophy Louisa Hunter and Cyril Wells, lady-help and cadet respectively on the farm, deposed to having heard nothing unusual during the night or early morning- when the murders were committed. Miss Hunter was the first to discover what had taken place. The medical evidence given showed that it was impossible to say definitely that the infant had died a violent death.

When accused was arrested, said Sub-Inspector M'llveney, he was perfectly normal in his behaviour, cool, calm, and collected/ After being cautioned he made his confession as to being the author of the murders. At the conclusion of the evidence Keals, who said lie had nothing to say, was committed for trial vat .the nest sittings of the Supreme' Court. While the Police Court'proceedings were 1 going on in connection with the charge, Mr. E. C. Cutten. S.M., was sitting as coroner, and holding an inquest on the two victims of_ the tragedy. Th'o evidence after being given m Court was 6Worn to beforo'him, the same depositions 'thus being used for both proceedings. The coroner found that both victims had been murdered by the accused.