MAROHEMO TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2240, 17 February 1921, Page 3

MAROHEMO TRAGEDY.

ACCUSED GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER, Auckland, Feb. 15. The hearing of the charge againsli Thomas Needham, an elderly farmer, for the alleged murder of his son, William Rawlins Needham, aged seventeen, on 16th January, was continued in the Supreme Court.

Winifred Edna Needham, a daughter of the accused, under.crossexamination, said her father was 66 years of age; she had heard that at the age of eleven, in England, her father fell from a tree, severely cutting his face; and he also suffered from sunstroke at the age of twen-ty-nine. About three years ago lie had received a blow on the head from a shackle pin. At times her father was far from normal, and his behaviour and conduct had been such that one member of the family thought he should be examined by a doctor before Christmas. He was actually sent to town to be examined by a doctor, but he went to a chemist's instead. After further evidence, the case for the defence was taken. Air Endean, addressing the jury, said that medical evidence would be given as to the accused’s mental condition, but even if that were not accepted, it was open to the jury to say that there had been sufficient provocation lo deprive an ordinary man of his self-control. Such finding would reduce the charge to one of manslaughter.

Airs Needham, accused’s wife, said she had been married nearly forty yelfrs, and her husband suffered from irritability and delusions. She corroborated her daughter’s statements as to his strange conduct. Three doctors were called, and stated that, in their opinion, accused was subject to fits of insanity. The prosecution called three doctors, who gave evidence in rebuttal. Alter a retirement of one hour and n-half, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation for mercy, on account of the accused s age and temperament. The passing of sentence was deferred.