THE WAIKINO TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1924, Page 3

THE WAIKINO TRAGEDY

CASK FOR T'llF DFFFXCF. [l:v TKI.KiJ ItAl'll I*KH I'll KSS ASSOCIATION.] AFOKI.ANI). Full. 13 Mr Sullivan, iur Higgins in the Waikimi shooting case, said the dcli'iiee van Higgins was insane at the time. Higgins would him-elf lull an uni inordinary -lory. 11 i up; ins bcliuvuil that neighbours killed his thickens, so hu rut a loophole ill the wall to watch lor his supposed enemies. Me later ureetud in his house a trap door to escape by if tile people approached his house. lie refused (o

go into the house unless the blinds we:e down as he believed that people wah bed him through lei 'scopes. 11 is 111 tle son was pill 111 il" si a hie to guard hi- horses a: night. Once IF 'pin' was annoyed at a motor eielist whizzing oa-t Ins hotl-c. lie -aid lie would jiui a hole in the lelli.w's hat and that the fellow was olle of hi. enemies. When told that il was foolish talk. ! lie-tins said: "Show me the law that ays I raiinoi. shoot oil' hi • hat Hi",:.miis n e.| to consult a Solicitor .".ii\ v. el regarding supposed e r a-va m. . against neighbours. ('oillis.4 "’up|. > i-.ed Ihe absence ol 0,0! in o- lb. i lie.', ot Ih" two vie! ill): . ACCK BAND. Fel,. 13. At ll l e Waikino murder trial, the defence called lour doctors to show tlia:. 11 luteins was suffering from ebroiiic in-anil.', and was insane in (Iv. lee' d sells,, at the time of the I ..utinn. Tbv prosecutor called four doctors in rebuttal to show that although slilf,• 1-i 11 u;. Higgins at the time was aware of the nalure of his act. The evidence has concluded.

T! I K TRIAD COXCIT’DFS. AFCKI.AXD. Feb. Ft The closing stage of the trial of Higgins was reached at the Supreme Court to-day. Counsel for accused urged that the crime wa- motiveless, in that he did not know the nature and quality of his act. Mr Meredith, for the Crown, said the issue was simply whether, in spite of the evidence, that the licensed was suffering from a degree ol insanity Dial 1m runic within that degree of in-anil v which excludes him from respon-ihilily for the criminality ot his actions. 11I0C1XS CFIFTY. A FCK LAND, Feb. M The iurv. altei' an'hnur am! a quarter's deliberation, found Higgins guilty. Higgins was sentenced to death. The foreman said the jury wished to express its appreciation of tile tact, and courage of Air Reed, the schoolmaster; also of the able manner in which the case had been presented. Higgins was asked il he desired to say anything and his Counsel replied that lie did not. ITis Honour said that, alter a careful trial and idle defence Higgins bad been found guilty. It only remained for him to pass the sentence prescribed by law.

The judge then assumed the black nip and passed the sentence of death, 11 logins showed no emoiinn.