A MADMAN’S DEED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16722, 6 May 1925, Page 9

A MADMAN’S DEED.

KILLS 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. KIA. OILY TRAGEDY. (Per rrfss Association , TIMAIUT, last night. The trial of Reginald Hoad, R 9 years of age, for the murder of his daughter, Elsie Hazel Hoad, aged .17, at Kia Ora, commenced at the Supreme Court this afternoon. Mr. W. D. Campbell appeared for flic Crown, and Mr. F. W. Ongley, of Oamaru, for the accused.

Mr. Campbell outlined the case at length as previously reported through the press. 'flic first witness was My.tic Head, sister of the deceased, wiio slept in the same room. She related how her father had come into the room on several occasions during the night, and about three o'clock she was awakened by her sister screaming. Witness saw her sister covered with blood, her father standing by, holding what she took to be an axe, but which she after,vnrds discovered was a. tomahawk. Witness had formed the opinion for some time that her father was becoming morose. Maurice Hoad, aged twelve years, also gave evidence regarding the occurrences of the fatal night.

George MacDonald related how in the ettriv hours of the morning accused came to ltis^iouse. The evidence showed that accused was obsessed with the idea that Hazel, of whom he was specially fond, might gain the affections of some man. For more than a year he had made it impossible for her to speak to any man or boy. He finally became so jealous of her (though there was not flic slightest ground for his suspicions) that on the night in question he killed her with a tomahawk when she was asleep in bed, at the same time shooting her with a ritle. The evidence of two experts in mental diseases. Dr. McKillop, medical superintendent of Sunuyside Asylum, and Dr. Urieh, of Timaru, showed that deceased was suffering from epileptic automatism, and they said that at the time of the tragedy he would lie unable to realise the nature of the quality of his act or know that it was wrong. The jury acquitted accused on the ground of insanity. Mr. Justice Adams said he fully agreed with the verdict, and sentenced accused to he detained in .Sunuyside mental asylum till the pleasure of the Minister' is known.