FOXTON MURDER CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 34

FOXTON MURDER CASE.

ACCUSED INSANE. PALMERSTON N., August 24. The Foxton murder case, in. which Hedley Nye is charged with shooting his father, came on before Mr Justice Cooper and a jury this morning. Mr C. A. Loughnan appeared for the Crown and Mr Wilford for the defence. An alternative count of manslaughter was also preferred-. Mr Wilford, bj consent of the court, put three issues : (1) Whether accused j was mute of malice or by the visitation i of God ; (2) whether he was able to plead ; or (3) whether he was sane or not. Evidence was called *to show that the accused had been a deaf mute all his life, and the jury, without leaving the . box, found the accused to be mute by the visitation of God. On the second and third issues counsel said be would bring evidence to show that accused was a victim of delusions. Accused 1 believed his father was still alive and in the house. Another delusion was that of a sense of grandeur, and that he could see in the dark. Counsel had tried to question accused, but his answers were wild and unintelligible. Dr Crosby, .medial superintendent of Mount View Asylum, gave the opinion ' that acueed was. a lunatic, and unable to ] plead. | Dr Gilmer, Wellington, gave corroborative evidence, stating that the boy be- ■ hayed. like "a wild animal. [ Dr Palmer, Masterton, said he had spent two hours with accused on the pre- j vious night, and found the delusions mentioned by other witnesses quite fixed. Accused was degenerating physically. ' Other evidence went to show that accused was of unsound mind. After the judge's charge the jury, without leaving the box, brought in a verdict of lunacy, and accusedi was ordered to be placed in the Porirua Mental Asylum during the pleasure of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Out of a willow tree in Thames Ditton, Surrey, can be seen growing a gooseberry bush, a currant bush, and an elderberry tree. There s a society in Auckland com- ' posed of ordinary workers find wage- ' earners who give their time and talents in ! providing benefit corcertts and performances for deserving cases of stress and unemployment. The society is now known a3 the Auckland Benevolent Concert Com- i panv, and has during the last three years distnbuted no lesa than £800. [