CHARGE OF MURDER.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 January 1919, Page 6

CHARGE OF MURDER.

. CHILLIS EYES GOUGED OUT. o MORINE B'EFOEE THE COUBT. ' , COMMITTED FOE TRIAL. A charge of murdering his baby girl, Joan Violet Morine, who died in the Hamilton "Hospital, on October 25 1918 as a result of having her eyes gouged out, was made against Albert Victor Morine, who is a strangelooking man of between 30 and 40 years of age, appeared in the dock handcuffed. Evidence was given by Mrs Winifred Griffin, of Niake, who stated that on the evening of October 23 she went to Morine's house, where she found Mrs. Morine nursing her baby girl, who.se eyes were severely injured. While she. was there Morine arrived at the back door, which was locked, and sought admission. While at the door Morine repeated twice: "I had to do it." Ultimately he went away, apparently in response of j liis wife's request that he should fetch a doctor.. On October 28 she was * again in the house. and saw Her husband pick up a bent tablefork outside the back door. .When asked whether he had any Questions to put to the witness, Morine said: — "Oust take me back to Ayondale ,where — Tie Court: Do you want to ask any questions ? Morine: No. She has told the truth, 3t think. Mrs. Eleanor A. Sorby ,who had taken charge of the injured child said that:' both eyes were missing. The child died in the hospital on October -• n3s;< "■,."• [STATEMENT BY MEDICAL MEN Dr. Douglas Martin, of Ngaruawahia, said that when he examined the child in the early hours of October 24 she was suffering from- extreme shock. The right eye had been removed and the upper lid had been .torn away completely. The other eye had also been removed, while tlere was a deep incision under the left '•.lid. In-his opinion, the shock was sufficient to cause almost immediate ~ iie\ih.

Dr.-. Archibald Joseph, of the Wai--feato Hospital, Hamilton, gave evidence similar to that of Dr. Martin. The sockets of the eyes, he said, were inot much injured, the eyes themselves Laving been cleanly "scooped out."

Frederick E. List, builder, of Naike, told the Court of the search for Morine, who was discovered by his own dog. hiding in some bushes. When the dog found him Morine, armed with two fencing battens, approached the house in a stealthy manner, and ■while he was crawling round the house was caught and secured by the ■witness. Morine told the witness; that be was in trouble adding that he. had taken out his daughter's eyes quite easily with a pocket-knife. The accused added that he had to do it, and he would do it again. "While lying secured, Morine attempted '/to take out one of his own eyes. ACCUSED TRIED TO INJURE HIMSELF. Constable T. Ingram, stationed at Hamilton, who arrested Morine, said that it had been necessary to keep a close watch on the accused. During the first night of his arrest Morine tried to knock his head on the floor, and later made frequent remarks about, "the glad eye." Subsequently lie had a star in his eye, and wanted to take it out, while, when in a

launch on part of the journey he asked to be allowed to put his eyes in" the creek- The witness stated that Mr. Griffin had given him a, fork found outside Morine's (house. This fork was bent double, and, although it had been outside in the rain, had the apperancc of blood on the prongs "I didn't use a four-pronged fork," Interjected' the accused. "All I used was my fingers." Asked the usual question as to whether he had anything to say to the charge, Morine replied: "Take me back to Avondale, where I shall meet my life-partner the dark lady.' ' Morine was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.