THE DROMORE TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2845, 12 February 1925, Page 3

THE DROMORE TRAGEDY.

FATHER DECLARED INSANE. Christchurch, February 10. The trial took place this afternoon before Air Justice Adams, of Robert Tyson Hodgson, who was charged with having murdered his son, Frederick Tyson Hodgson, at Dromore on the night of January 1. Mr A. T. Donnelly appeared for the Crown and the prisoner was represented by Mr W. J. Hunter. Evidence for the Crown was the same as that given in the Lower Court. Air Hunter said the prisoner had an unfortunate family history. His father was admitted to Sunnyside Asylum in 1885 and died there in 1908. There were other cases of mental disability in the family, but little reference would be made to them for the sake of the relatives. Drs. McKillop and Gray, alienists giving evidence for the defence, said they had come to the conclusion that at the time of the murder the prisoner was suffering from an attack of acute excitement which was practically epileptic in character and that he was incapable of understanding the nature and quality of the act. of killing his son and knowing that, such an act was wrong. His Honour said the Crown Prosecutor frankly admitted that the evidence of the medical experts for the defence would be accepted by. (he Crown. He suggested that providd the jury found the prisoner was insane at the time the crime was committed their verdict should be couched in the following terms: “We find accused not guilty. We further find accused was insane at the time of the commission of the offence and declare him acquitted on the grounds of insanity.” The effect of such a verdict said His Honour, would he that, accused would he detained because of his insanity and because he murdered his son. Without leaving the box, the jury returned a verdict on the terms suggt sled, his Honour stating that accused would he ordered to he kept ii, Pararua Prison until the pleasure of the Alinisler of Justice was known.