A SAD TRAGEDY v

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 100, 22 January 1919, Page 8

A SAD TRAGEDY v

A FATHER CHARGED WITH MURDER. - By Telegraph—Press Association •- Auckland, January 21. The tragedy which occurred at. Naik. near Ngaruawahia, on October 23 last, when the eyes of a thirteeii-months-old baby named Joan Morine were gouged out with the result that death ensued, was recalled this morning wlien Albert Victor Marine, the" father of the child, was charged at the Auckland Police. Court with murder. Morine, who has been detained in Avondale Mental Hospital since his arrest, appeared in the dock wearing handcuffs, and looked forlorn and wretched in the extreme. Hewas not represented by counsel. Evidence was on the lines of that giveix at the.inquest. Dr. Douglas Martin, of Ngaruawahia. described the injuries to the child, which ho said were consistent with the nse of a sharp instrument. The child, when he saw it. on the night of October 23, was suffering severely from shock, which was. tho cause of its doath. This evidence was corroborated by Dr. Archibald Joseph, of Waikato Hospital. The doctors stated that both eyeballs had been completely removed and that death occurred early on the morning,of October, 26. • ' ' . , Among the witnesses was Frederick List, who stated that be found accused hiding in ti-trce on his (accused's). property, and took him to a neighbour's woolshed. Morine,"who looked \

very dejected, said that he was in. trouble and that he had taken his little, daughter's eyes out. He added that lio had' done it quite 'easily with a. pocket-knife, that he had to do it, and would do it again. Witness' searched him, but could find no knife or other instrument. While in the shed Morine. attempted to gouge out his own eyes with iiis fingers, and' witness had ■ to. secure-him till the police arrived. Constable Engrain, of Huntly, stated that accused, when being removed to Hamilton, bohaved like a maniac. He said that he had stars in'his eyes, and entreated the police to let him take them' out. When placed in a padded cell lie tried to injure himself. ' Accused was committed for trial.