THE SETON MURDER.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 April 1919, Page 7

THE SETON MURDER.

j QUESTION OF INSANITY. COL. RUTHERFORD'S HISTORY. LONDON April 8. At the trial of Colonel Rutherford 011 a charge of murdering Major Scton it was mentioned that Colonel Rutherford had .appeared 'before medical boards during bis war service, and he was incapacitated for some time_ Colonel Hill, an army doctor, stated that the severest form of eczema, from which Rutherford suffered, was liable to cause frquent insomnia and worry and ultimately mental derangement.

A definite pica of temporarily in sane was entered for the defence.

The defending counsel accepted the accuracy of the story of the crime, but argued that absence of any altercation and the needless ferocity of the shooting indicated madness, and not an ordinary spirit of revenge, and jealousy. He did not shoot .once, saying. "I've dont it," but poured bullet after bullet into Scton's body, and was then dazed and vacant.

Colonel Rutherford's brother, an army doctor, testified that the prisoner was queer for three months before the tragedy, as the result of an injury

! to the head he sustained while \. laying football in Fiance. He showed great depression during December last and said, "I'm sorry the war is over 7 as I hoped to get killed on this visit to France."

His fathers sister died insane in. 1913

Dr. Wright, professor of anatomy at the London hospital, stated that Colonel Rutherford suffered from eczema, which was the worst he had ever seen. It resulted from the formalin in dissecting. Prisoner was advised to abandon the study of anatomy, but he persisted, owing to his ambitions. Dr. Wright said he saw a letter which Colonel Rutherford sent to his wife, It was erratically worded, and like something a madman would write. As previosuly reported by cablegram Colonel Rutherford has since been found guilty, but insane. He has been ordered to bo detained during His Majesty's pleasure.