PONSONBY TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2768, 7 August 1924, Page 2

PONSONBY TRAGEDY.

MAN KILLS BABY SON

Auckland, Yesterday. A tragedy occurred at Ponsonby this afternoon,: a male child, Desmond Keogh, aged 16 months, dying as the result, of having his throat cut by his father. Harry Joseph Peters Keogh, also known as Harous Joseph Patrick Keogh, aired 42, of 82 Franklin Road, is in custody on a charge of murder.

Mrs Keogh was.unt working and the eldest girl, aged 0’ years was at school, leaving Keogh with three yo-ungei-iigirls and Desmond at home.

When Mrs Keogh returned with her'eldest daughter at 3.30 p.m. she found the body of the baby in bis cot in a bedroom covered with -- a':

K.ogh was sitting in llie kitchen and immediately, it is stated, said: “I’ve killed Desmond.” He pointed to a knife and said: “I did it with that.”

The eldest girl immediately sent for the police and it is alleged that when he was arrested, Keogh said h; had intended to cut hi*own throat and thought it a pity <> leave his only boy behind. lie said be was preparing the baby’s lunch at about 1.30 p.m. when be felt a temptation to stab tile child. He laid the knife down and walked about tor some time but again fell that he must take the child’s life and his own. The baby was then in the kitchen and he cut his throat, then carrying it into the bedroom. It is alleged Keogh said he bad consulted a doctor and had a presentiment he would not live long. Ho further said he tried to cut his own throat but inflicted only minor cats.

It is stated that Keogh was an inmate of a mental hospital for a week in May, but was discharged as not insane.

KEOGH EXAMINED BY MENTAL

EXPERTS.

Auckland, August G.

Murry Joseph Peters Keogh appeared to-day in the Magistrate’s Court on a charge of having murdered his child at Ponsonby yesterday by cutting its throat with a table knife. Keogh is frail and emaciated looking and presented a dishevelled appearance and his counsel asked that lie should be. axamiued by mental experts with the least possible delay. The chief detective said this had already been done. Mr Boynton, S.M., remanded the accused till August 15, and said that counsel could have Keogh examined !. v ; his own mednml jian^