FATHER’S INSANE JEALOUSY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2880, 7 May 1925, Page 4

FATHER’S INSANE JEALOUSY.

lIOAD ACQUITTED ON MURDER CHARGE. TO BE DETAINED IN MENTAL HOSPITAL. Tintani, Last Night. Ar the Supreme Court to-day, Reginald Hoad (3!)), farm labourer, living near Oairiaru, was charged with the murder of his daughter Hazel (17) in the early morning of April 3 last-. The evidence showed that accused was obsessed with the idea, that Hazel of whom he was specially fond, might, gain affections of some man and for more than a year, he had made it impossible for her (o speak to any man, or hoy. He finally became so jealous of her (though there was not the slightest ground for his suspicions) that he killed her with a tomahawk when she was asleep in bed, at the same time shooting- her with a rifle. The evidence of Iwo experts on mental diseases, Dr. MeKillop, medical superintendent of Sunnyside Asylum, and Dr. Ulrich, of Timarti, showed accused to lie suffering from epileptic automatism and they said that at the lime of the tradgedv, he would lie unable to realise the nature or qualify of his act, or to know that it was wrong.

The jury acquitted accused on the grounds of insanity.

Mr Justice Adams fully agreed with the verdict and sentenced accused lo he detained in Sunnyside .Mental Asylum till the pleasure of the Minister was known.