A Doctor Shoots his own Daughter.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 3

A Doctor Shoots his own Daughter.

At Leeds during the last North-Eastern Circuit (reports the ' Times '), before Mr Justice Matthew, William Henry Emeris Buike (42), surgeon, was charged with the wilful murder of his daughter, Aileen Ethel Oona Burke, at Monk Bretton on February 4th, 1888. The case was one of a most painful description, as cho prisoner held a good position as, a surgeon at Monk Bretton, near Barnsley. The prisoner on being placed in the dock looked very ill, and appeared to feel his position most keenly. Throughout the whole trial he buried his face in his handsand leant his head on the front of the dock. Unfortunately he had given way to drink. On February 4th the prisoner was di inking to a great extent a>t the Norman Inn, near his own residence, which was called the Manor House. At about 6 p.m., while still at the inn, he commenced to write a letter to his wife. At 9 o'clock he left the inn, but returned about a quarter of an hour afterwards, accompanied by his wife and his daughter, to whom he was devotedly attached, and who was nine years of age. They all remained there in the parlour until 11 o'clock, which was closing time. In the meantime, the prisoner had had more drink. A little before 11 o'clock, Mrs Burke rushed out of the room, and, observing a constable, who had come in to see the house cleared at closing" time, said to him, " Officer, do go and take a revolver out of the doctor's pocket ; make haste, do not be a coward.' The constable went into the room. He then saw the prisoner raise his arm and direct) it towards his child. A report followed and the girl fell dead at tho prisoner's feet, shot through the heart. The prisoner then pointed his arm towards himself, and a second report followed. The prisoner then threw down a revolver and said, ' 1 have missed,' then threw himself down on a seat. The prisoner was at once taken into custody, but it was sometime before he could be brought before the Magistrates, owing"to a severe wound he had jfinflicted upon himself. Mr Mellor, on behalf of the prisoner, said that the evidence of the constable, the only witness who saw the occurrence, could not be safely relied on. He further contended that the affair was a pure accident, and that under any circumstances the prisoner ought only to be convicted of manslaughter. The jury, afterfif tyminutes' deliberation, found the prisoner guilty. The learned Judge said it was a most melancholy instance of a man of high intelligence and good position having, through drink, reduced himself to* the level of the lowest of humanity, and it was a most painful duty for him to have to pass sentence upon him. His Lordship then passed sentence of death in the usual' form, and on its conclusion showed deep emotion , The prisoner received the senten.ee with great calmness.