KILLED BY HIS BROTHER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2247, 20 July 1908, Page 1

KILLED BY HIS BROTHER.

CHILD CHARGED WITH MURDER PATHETIC COURT SCENE. j Australian exchanges to hand fiirn-1 ish additional particulars of the- Tasmanian tragedy, brief mention of which was cabled over. The HobartCorrespondent of tho “Melbourne Argus,” writing on June 25 says:— Tho Criminal Court , was crowded this morning-when tho littlo boy, Robert John RaiVis, whs placed in tho dock on a charge of having murdered liis step-blotlier, Alexa. Jrr Robertson. It will bo recalled that the body ol tho murdered boy, whoso ago was 2$ years, was found in the bush at Irislitown. Trooper Knight was sent to make inquiries, -and learned that Mrs. Robertson, the child’s mother, had gono to Irishtown to do some washing, and her husband wont to work on the farm of Mr. House, a mile and a half from liis homo, leaving the children, Alexander Robertson, and his half-brother, Robert Alexander Davis, at home. . During tho day tho boys, visited their father, and after staying half an hour woro sent home through the bush. When the father returned homo the same evening he missed the younger hoy, and Robert, in answer to his father’s questions, said, “A hyena has taken Aliclc.” “What,” exclaimed the father. “Yos,” answered tlio boy, “he took him when wo were coming through the bush.” Robert, when pressed closely, said: “Alick was riding on my back, and fell off.” Tho father went in soarch of the missing child, and found him concealed in a hole in the bush, about a milo from tho house. Tlie child’s head was terribly battered, death occurring two hours later. Robert was questioned at the inquest oil the following day, and said he could not carry Alick all the way home, so he hit him twice on the head with a. piece of wood, and put him in the hole.

AVlien the case was called on in court, the accused boy was placed on a chair in order that he might be visable to Mr. Justice Mclntyre ai d the jury. The novelty of tho situation seemed to appeal to him. Ho stared wistfully at tho Bench, and at the table where counsel sat, and then liis eyes wandered about the court as curiosity diotated. He was quite 'unaware of the nature of the proceedings, and took littlo notice of them. Those who liad expected to see a boy with’abnormal physiognomy cere disappointed. He had rather a pleasing face, and, notwithstanding his rather large forehead, the whole head and countenance were well balanced. His demeanour gave no indication of a troubled mind, being natural in every way, and betraying not the slightest fear.

After the charge had been read the Solicitor-General said he would like to address a few words to Mr. Justice M’lntyre with regard to the case. It seemed very sad that they should go on with such a •sprious charge against a child of such tender years.

Mr. Justice Mclntyre: Yes, it does seem shocking. On returning to the court the Solic-itor-General stated that when lie received the evidence taken at the inquest on the body of the boy Robertson it was plainly his duty to file an indictment for murder. These proceedings had been taken, and it was for tho jury to say whether the infant knew right from wrong. He had not seen the lad at all until that morning. He had not gone to tho gaol to see him, because it was not his duty to do so, but lie confessed that when he saw tho littlo fellow standing in _the box he received a shock. The lad seemed a bright littlo boy, but it was apparent that he did not know anything about the proceedings. He bad boon born in unhappy circumstances, and had been living in the back-blocks all his life.

The parents; mother, and stepfather of tlio accused child wore called, and on being questioned said they were willing that tho boy should be taken to the Boy’s Home, or somo similar institution, to be cared for. Mr. Justice M’lntyre said that a nolle prosequi would bo entered. The case was then adjourned for an hour to enable tho Solicitor-General to communicate with an officer of tlio Department for Neglected Children.