THE WAITARA MURDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3141, 19 March 1909, Page 5

THE WAITARA MURDER.

TRIAL OF DR. GOODE. By Telegraph—Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 18. The trial of Dr. Goode was resumed this morning, and occupied all day. Constable Mclvor, who effected the arrest of accused, stated under crosd-examination that accused asked at the Waitara Police Station wh'it he had been arrested for. Detective Boddam told him it 'was for shooting a woman. Accused replied, "I never shot anybody. I wouldn't do anybody any harm." Mr Skerrett: Did he appear to you from his demeanour to be at a loss to understand what all the commotion was about? Witness (after slight hesitation): I think he was. Mr Skerrett: Did he refer at any time to the tragedy, which had just occurred? Witness: No. Continuing the cross-examination, Mr Skerrett drew from the witness the fact that accused put the whole blame for what had occurred on Constable Price. He said to Mr Wilkes, "You take an action against him for £I,OOO damages for injury to my practice." Accused said that he wanted to see the Magistrate at once, as he wished to get back home with the solicitor. H. B. Leathern, medical superintendent of the New Plymouth Hospital, said he saw accused in the hospital on the morning after his arrest when Mrs Klenner's depositions were taken. He looked dishevelled, harrassed and wild, and seemed very ill. He had decided manifestations of chronic alcoholism, ft struck witness by accused's demeanour that accused did not- realise his position. Witness said it is known that sudden attacks of homicidal impulse may occur in a person who may not afterwards be aware of any violent act that may have been committed during such attacks. Dr. D. S. Wylie, of New Plymouth, said accused looked very ill when witness was called in to see him. Accused from first to last manifested no remorse or rea isation of his position. vVitness' examination led him to the conclusion that Dr. Goode was insane on December 14th. After similar evidence the case for the prosecution closed. Mr Skerrett intimated that he would call scientific testimony as to accused's mental state.