THE STRONVAR TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2052, 8 November 1919, Page 3

THE STRONVAR TRAGEDY.

RESIDE CHARGED WITH MURDER.

EVIDENCE OF UNSOUND MIND

Wellington, Nov. 7

At the Supreme Court the trial has commenced of James Reside, a returned .soldier, on a charge of murdering Christopher Carr at Stronvar, Wairarapa, on September Gth. Mr Justice Chapman is on the Bench. ■Mr Macassey is for the Crown, and Messrs Wilford and Pragnell for the defence. ■ Mr Ma cassey, in opening the case, said that the defence would he that accused was of unsound mind when ho committed the murder.

Evidence was given on similar lines to tlmt in the Lower Court ami at the inquest. Alexander Reside, father of the accused, was asked by the Judge if his sou was queer before he went to the front, and said: “Yes, your Honour. He went the same way as his mother.” Mr Wilford said that it would be proved that the mother was in a mental hospital. Witness, cross-examined, said that his son had an idea that Carr was in league with someone outside with a bomb to blow them up. The bomb idea was continually in his mind, Accused, prior to going to the war, had a dispoudent tendency, and on one occasion gave himself up to the police at Maslerton to prevent'himself'from committing suicide. Accused’s mother and aunt were menially affected. Accused left with the 401 h Reinforcements, and weid through the terrible epidemic experienced on the Taihiti after the vessel left Sierra Leone. Mr Wilford said that the defence was that under section 43 of the Crimes Act the prisoner was free from responsibility’ of his action. Accused was suffering from specific delusions. Doctors had talked with him in gaol, and had all eome separately to (he same conclusion that accused was not accountable for what he had done. He was suffering from a menial disease known as pa ranoia. Drs. Fyfe, (tow, I’rindc and Litchfield gave evidence that they’ found accused lo be a man who did not appear to realise his position. He suffered from delusions, and laughed at his offence. La ter. His Honour, in summing up, put to the jury two questions ; (G) Yas accused, James Reside, insane at the time lie committed the offence will) which he was charged. (2) Do you acquit him on the ground of insanity ? Without retiring, the jury answered the two questions submitted them in the affirmative. His Honour ordered that the prisoner he kept in custody in the public prison at Wellington mild the pleasure of liiG Minister of Justice was known.