MURDER CHARGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 206, 26 May 1920, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

THE RONGAHERE TRAGEDY

JOHN SHARP COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

By Telogranh-Preea Association. Dunedin, May 25. • John Sharp, a farmer, aged VI, was, charged to-day at Jjnlcluthu before Mr. E. 1). Jlosley, S.M., with murdering his daughter, Sophia M'Leau Sharp, aged 7. Constable b'indlay said he went to Rongahero on the morning of May 16', and tuer,? saw deceased lying on a tola. She was unconscious and nad several in- t juries on her head. Ono of her fingers, was badly broken. A doctor attended her and arranged to remove her to the Dunedin Hospital. He took her in his car and returned an hour and a half; later with the body of the girl, she hav-' ing died on the way. Witness found a eticF (produced) about 10 yards outside, the front door of accused's house. A quantity of hair was attached to tho stick and there was a pool of blood near where it was lying.

David Ireland said that he found deceased Lying on the ground insensible. Her head and face were covered with' blood. Witness removed her to his house and sent for a doctor.

When the deposition of the last two witnesses were read over to accused, he remarked: "It's the wrong stick."

Sergeant Kidd said that on the morning of May 1G accused called at the Police Station at Lawrence and told him that he had assaulted his little daughter Sophia and he thought her injuries wero of a serious nature. Witness asked him why he had assaulted her, and he replied that his oldest, daughter had as-' saultcd him on the previous night by catching him by his whiskers and throwing him on to the floor, and that her three youngest sisters assisted Jier to, assault hiin. After getting free, he 6aid, lie picked up a piece of wood from .a box and ran after the older girls, but he was unable' to catch them. Oh his way back to the house ho met Sophia andT struck her with the piece of wood! Witness then arrested him and later ascertained that the girl, was dead. Witness told accused Hint she was dead. Ho replied that she. was as well dead as to be half-alive for the remainder of her life. Witness then charged him with murder. He made a statement in which he said-he struck deceased with a piece of wood on the hend._ Cross-examined, witness said that accused was examined by two doctors In the Lawrence lock-up as to his state, of mind.

Accused, who was very dull of hearing, reserved his defence, and was com-, rriitted for trial at the sittiiifis _of flie Supreme Court in Dnnedin in August. Bail wasviiot asked for. At the adjourned inquest on_ tim of the murder, tho Coroneif'i'Otu.rn-. Ed a. verdict that death was duo to a fractured skull with concussion and laceration nj the brain substance, caused by blows inflicted by the girl's father..