TERRIBLE FAMILY TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 906, 18 October 1910, Page 4

TERRIBLE FAMILY TRAGEDY.

FATHER KIEEED BY HIS SON.

James Hamilton Nicholas, a young man who had only recently returned from New Zealand, was the chief actor in a shocking trage-ly at Kiugsand* Bay, Plymouth on 23rd August, when he is said to have murdered his father, Major James Hamilton Nicholas.

Major Nicholas was 55 years of age, a retired officer ot the Royal Army Medical Corps, living at Croydon with his wife and family ot two boys and three girls, of whom James is the eldest. James had been weak-minded, apparently, from youth. At the age of nineteen years, he came to New Zealand, where be engaged in sheep farming in the Auckland province. He is not 24 years old. In April, 1909, he had a sunstroke, and he alterwards suffered from religious melancholia and brain fever. He was confined for some time in an asylum. In June, 1909. Major Nicholas came out to the Dominion to take his son home, but he was not in a fit condition to travel until May of this year, when his sister took him to England. There is no doubt that he has been insane ever since his return to England. The family were afraid of him. He was never allowed to go out alone. Two others always accompanied him, and they always kept near the tramlines and police for the sake of protection. At home at Croydon he was locked In his room at night, and there were wooden shutters on the window. He plainly resented the watching and care.

Since the family moved down to Kingsand for the holidays he had been somewhat better, but he resented being forbidden to bathe. Mrs Nicholas noticed that he was turning against his father, aud warned him that he should either be sent away or have a keeper. The Major, though, believed he could manage the boy. It was a fatal resolve. Before morning the tragedy occurred. On Monday evening the whole family went for a walk. On reaching home the son went straight to bed. The room was unlocked, there being no lock on the door. About three o’clock in the morning sounds were heard in the house, and Miss Yvonne Nicholas, emerging from her room, heard her father say something and her brother reply “Coming.” Her father called for a light, and, going to them, she found her father lying on the floor and her mother wiping blood from his face.

“My brother,” said Miss Nicholas at the inquest, “was bending over him, aud mother was trying to pull him away. I saw him fiddling with my father’s throat. I did not quite understand what he was doing.” Then the candle went out ? Yes. My mother called the servant.

When your mother was gone what was your brother doing ? —• He seemed to be throttling my father. I tried to pull him away. My brother called out “Let go!” Soon after I tried to pull his arm away—he appeared to abandon what he wanted to do- His arm relaxed, and when he pulled it away I saw he had a dagger in his hand. There are similar hanging on the wall of the draw-ing-room. Your father used to tell him what he was to do and not to do ? —lf it did not please him he would resent it. He would not say anything, but he had a worried look on his face —that was at Croydon. When thwarted he would have fits of anger, I presume ?—Yes, Do you know of any particular reason for this outburst of his ? Since he has been down here he has not been allowed to bathe. He had a weak heart. On Saturday he bathed without permission.

Did his father remonstrate with him ? —Yes ; he particularly ordered him not to bathe. He ! was not allowed to smoke at : certain times, and he was always forbidded to eat between meals for medical reasons, J baye po doubt that my brother has been insane since his return to England. Js it a fact that you have been personalty afraid of him ? —We all have. We were .always expecting something ,to happen, J believe that when your brother was being brought home he had a keeper, and tfcaf tbe keeper had to watch him all tbe time he was on the ship ?—Yes. And one of .the keepers at Auckland Asylum returned to England a short time since, and your mother prepared a bed for him in the house, but yonr father would not have it ?*—Ves, Ypur father thought he was able to control bis own son ! Yes. Superintendent Gard.' How was he able to leave the Auckland Asylum ?—On father promising to look after him. Was that reported to the Commissioners here ? —I don’t know. The jury returned a verdict of “ wilful murder ” agaiust the sou, aud expressed sympathy with the family. The son is in custody on the charge of murder.