FATHER CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3000, 18 February 1926, Page 2

FATHER CHARGED WITH MURDER.

THE ELTHAM TRAGEDY. ACQUITTAL ON GROUND OF INSANITY. New Plymouth, February 17. In the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Reed, the trial took place of Archibald Gray, of Eltham, formerly an inspector of the Public Health Department, for the murder of his son, William Gray, aged 16 years, at Eltham, on November 26, 1925. The Crown Prosecutor said that accused belonged to the religious sect known as the Plymouth Brethren, and he thought from his nature that he was attracted by the more gloomy side of that sect’s beliefs rather than by its brighter side. From papers in the possession of the Crown it was evident that there was a gloomy side to that religion. At the time of the offence, accused was under notice by his Department to transfer to Dannevirke, and in consequence had sold his house on the morning of the crime. A neighbour of accused, Mr. Carter, was attracted by cries from Gray’s place, and on going into the washhouse found Gray standing over the body of the boy lying on the floor of the building with his throat cut. There were also wounds on his head, and Gray had a razor in his hand. His wife was also there, and there were marks on her throat. The police were sent for, and Counstable Townsend took Gray ot the lock-up, where he made a statement which was written down and signed by him. In it he admitted having beeu restless and nervous and sleepless of late. He said that it had been his intention to kill his family, and take his own life. In view of this, counsel said, the only possible defence could be that of insanity. Constable Townsend, in evidence, said that when he saw Gray he asked him if he knew what lie had done, and accused answered “Yes” in a quiet tone. He said that he lmd been nervy and sleepless lately, also that he hsd intended to kill the whole family and then take bis own life. At the police station Gray sat down and said: “It’s an awful thing I’ve done. I don’t know why I did it.” His admission was put into writing and Gray signed it. The defence was that accused was suffering from a form of insanity, and therefore was not responsible for the act. The evidence of several mental experts was called to support the plea of in sanity. Dr. Blair, acting-superintendent of the Porirua Mental Hospital, said that while he had Gray under observation since the crime, accused had told him that periodically he had (its of depression and sleeplessness, in which the idea of suicide came into his mind. Previously he had been able to withstand the suggestion, but this time the impulse to commit suicide came upon him overwhelmingly. But he felt he could not do that and leave his family, and so he must kill them first. His mind seemed to tell him that it was the right thing to do. He could not say whether his account of what took place was what he actually remembered or what he had been told. At other times he said that the whole thing seemed to be a dream, and he thought at one time that he might wake up and find that the thing had never happened. He used to ween for the loss of his son, but lie said he bad no feeling of guilt. From what witness had heard and from his own observations, he was convinced that accused was suffering from acute melancholia, and was not responsible for his action at the time.

The jury acquitted accused on the ground of insanity, and accused was ordered to be detained in a mental hospital.