CHARGE OF MURDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8446, 22 May 1907, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER.

TRIAL OF CLAUDE PAGET. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 21. The trial of Claude Paget, on a charge of having murdered Eleanor Pearl Axup, was continued at the Supreme Court, to-day. Sydney Tisdall gave evidence con- . cerning the bullets found in the wood of the room where the tragedy took place. He v/m of opinion that at least one of the bullets came from one of the empty cartridges found in the revolver concerned in the case. The ironmonger who sold the revolver and several medical witnesses, were also exaniiricd. In opening the defence Mr Wilford said that he intended to prove that Paget suffers from epileptic insanity. Evidence would be given to show that Paget had been an epileptic from birth; that it had reached an abnormal stage within the last two or three years; that the man had on several occasions attempted suicide; that his mental balance had been disturbed by an injury to the head at Christchurch; that on one occasion, nine months ago, he threw himself out of a high window while in a fit, and was picked up unconscious and afterwards attempted to take his life in three different way's. At this stage Paget, who had been looking vacantly about him, fell with a crash on to the floor of the dock. He was picked up, and seated on a chair, where he remained during the rest,of the afternoon. Counsel, proceeding, said that evidence would be called to show that the accused had also the beginning of optic atrophy, and that he would be ston6 blind' in five years.

Mrs Pamela Paget, the prisoner's A mother, was then called. She said f her father died at Sunnyside. The prisoner was once married, and had two children. Both children and their mother died during the last three years. Prisoner had become queer * and fretful. He would occasionally leave his work without warning, and would at times answer her unintelligently. At these times he would complain of his head. Witness gave evidence in detail of instances of accused's strange behaviour at different times. Other witnesses were called, and testified to Paget attempting to take his life; to his generally queer manner; and to injuries he had received to his head. Further hearing of the case was adjourned until to-morrow morning.