A SHOCKING AFFAIR

Southland Times, Issue 18823, 17 May 1920, Page 5

A SHOCKING AFFAIR

MURDER OF A CHILD. ATTACKED BY HER FATHER,, (Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 16. The police were advised this morning that Dr Stenhouse, of Balclutha, had been rung up by Mr Pannett, of Wharetoa, saying that a farmer named John Sharp, of Rongahere, had attacked his children during Saturday. The children had got away from him, but in the evening he attacked two of them. One got away, out the other, a girl named Sophia, seven years of age, was rendered unconscious. Mr Pannett asked the doctor to come to the scene and bring a constable with him. Pr Stenhouse and Constable Findlay, from Balclutha, set out for Rongahere, arriving there at 3 o’clock this morning. The injured girl, with other members of the family, were with Mrs Ireland, nearby. Oti examination the doctor found that the child’s head had been bashed in. He took the child in his car and started out for Dunedin with the object of placing the injured girl in the hospital, but by the time he had gone seven miles she expired. He thereupon returned with the body to Mrs Ireland’s and left it there. Mrs Sharp had been in delicate health, and was staying in Dunedin. Sharp is described as 70 years of age, sft lOin in height, stout, dressed roughly and with a straggled beard. A party of police set out from Dunedin at. 11 o’clock this morning to search for Sharp. A party of police also left from Invercargill, the scene of the tragedy being on the borderland of the Otago and Southland police districts. Sharp made for Lawrence, and there gave himself up at the police station. He stated to Sergeant Kidd that he had struck one of his girls, but thought she was all right. LOCAL POLICE PARTY. Inquiries made at a late hour last night elicited the information that the party of police, Detective-Sergeant Cameron and Constables Austin, Dickson and Armstrong, who left Invercargill to search for Sharp per motor, had not returned at a late hour last night.