RONGAHERE MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 18824, 18 May 1920, Page 5

RONGAHERE MURDER

SHARP REMANDED. (Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 17. John Sharp was to-day brought before J.'.«P. at Lawrence charged with murdering his daughter, Sophia Sharp. At the request of the police accused was remanded to Balclutha to ap.pear on May 25. INVERCARGILL POLICE POSSE. A TRYING TIME. PARTICULARS OF THE TRAGEDY. The police posse, consisting of SeniorDetective Cameron and Constables Dixon, Austin and Armstrong, that set out for Rongahere on the receipt of advice that John Sharp had murdered his seven-year-old daughter, had a trying march. The party left by motor car at noon on Sunday and reached the Ranklebum Creek, in the Tnpanui district, at 4 o’clock. Further progress then had to be made on foot uphill and against a strong wind. After walking about two miles and a half they reached a farm house where they were given a meal the cheering effects of which were somewhat lessened by the information that they were still ten miles from the Beene of the deed. They pushed on through the night for another four miles before they reached a farmhouse at which again they were hospitably received. Here they were informed of a rumour that Sharp had given himself up, but nothing definite could be learned. Another four miles found the weary officers of the law' at a farm residence where they heard definitely that the previous advice was true. Detective Cameron was driven on and interviewed the deceased's sisters. Neighbours, according to a member of the party, looked on Sharp as being “a little queer.” He was, they said, subject to violent fits of passion over very trivial matters and various eccentricities in connection with his work —as surfaceman and farmer —confirmed the belief that he was not quite “all there.” His wife had been away from home, and neighbours had heard him say that if she was not back by Friday he would murder all the family. On the night of the attack (Saturday) at about 10 o’clock an elder daughter, aged 19, had been reading to Sharp a letter from his wife. Ho accused her of missing out parts, and, taking a stick, dazed her by a hit on the head. A younger daughter came to her sister’s assistance and was promptly attacked also. She ran outside and her father could not find her. On his return to the house ho found the deceased child standing in the doorway and hit her on the head with the stick three or four times. The daughter in hiding carried the unconscious form outside, and the assistance of neighbours was procured. In the meantime Sharp, who is 73 years old, had dressed himself and, saddling his horse, rode 26 miles to Lawrence where he gave himself up to the police. It is stated that on several occasions he expressed his intention of drowning himself.