THE RUAHINE TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1360, 13 February 1915, Page 3

THE RUAHINE TRAGEDY.

TRIAL OF ROTTMAN. The trial of Roltmau for the Ruahine murder was commenced at Wanganui on Thursday. Evidence similar to that given in the lower Court was taken, and Constable Crow who escorted accused to Wellington after bis committal at Wanganui, stated that the latter said in the train “ On the morning of 28th December I got home about 3 o’clock, and went out with M’Cana to the cow bail. M’Cana was putting In a new board. I asked him to let me do it, as I was a carpenter. 1 You are too full,’ I said ; ‘ I can swing an axe,’ and swung it round my head, accidentally hitting M’Cann, and I then slept for two hours, and when I got up and saw M’Cann lying there I got another bottle of whisky, and drank it, waiting to kill myself. I then went to Mrs M’Cann’s bedroom to tell her what I had done. I don’t remember anything more until I came to the cowbaii, and saw M’Cana. I got sober all at once and then I put four kerosene tins of water into the milk, and went to the factory.” Counsel, in _ opening the case for defence, said be would admit the facts as stated by the prosecution. The defence stated that the

accused was not responsible for bis actions ; in other words that be was insane. In his evidence the accused stated that his father used to drink and his mother has twice been in an asylum. One of his brothers died of brain fever, and his sister suffered from hysteria. His parents told him that when he was a little boy he fell down some stairs. He could give no evidence as to how the tragedy occurred, stating it was like a dream to him. He had been drinking heavily the day previously and also ou the morning of the tragedy.