SEADOWN MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1930, Page 5

SEADOWN MURDER

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

TIMARU, Feb. o. TIAIAtU . Feb. o

Opening for tlie defence, Air F. J. Rolleston lead a letter written by deceased to her sister on Jan. 9th., in which she said, in part: “We are slowly getting the rooms straight and they look very nice. J think I get very tired, and John gets very worried if lie sees me looking ill (so I always pull a long lace when I see him coining). However, 1 suppose I will soon get used to 4 it. I am afraid, Annie, things are far from satisfactory on/the farm here. It has come as an awful shock. No wonder Jack has been worried about money. The fact of the matter is lie is gradually dropping money every year and it is not paying. I feel I must tell you, Annie, so don’t breathe a word to mother as .it all goes to Aunt Harriet, but you can tell Nettie and Lilly if you like. Jack is nearly off his head with worry, and what with trying to pacify him and to keep a brave face myself, I can tell you it is hard. I really have been too dispirited to write before. I don’t know what we will do. I cannot see how he can make a success of this place at all. it looks as if he will lose every penny here.”

OLDFIELD ACQUITTED

ON GROUNDS OF INSANITY

TIMARU, Feb. 5

At the Supreme Court to-day, Jack Oldfield, farmer, of Seadown, was found'“not guilty,” on the ground of insanity on the charge of murdering his wife, Christine Oldfield, on Jan. 13th. The medical evidence showed that the accused was melancholic following on the tragedy. Dr T. M. Beale, of Christchurch, stated that he was of opinion that the accused was actually suicidal, ana he thought that that was the accused’s condition before the tragedy. His general' morbid oulook gave signs of impending insanity. Dr F, F. A. Ulrich, of Timaru, said that the accused was suffering from simple melancholia. In his opinion, this was the cause of the act.

Dv A. C. McKillop, Superintendent of Sunnyside Alental Hospital, said that lie had no doubt the accused' knew what lie was doing, and knew that it was wrong. Witness did not think that a sudden impulse was the cause of the tragedy. Dr T. AV. Charles, of SeacTiff Asylum, agreed with Dr AlcKillop. ’The jury were only out for twenty minutes when they returned with' a verdict as stated.