MURDER CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 February 1941, Page 3

MURDER CHARGE

| SHOOTING OF LANDLORD MANUNUi TRAGEDY. TRIAL OF LONGLEY. 'By Telegraph—Press Association i HAMILTON February 5. The trial of Charles Harold Longley, aged 39. an invalidity pensioner. Manunui. on a charge of murdering Jeremia O'Sullivan on September 22. 1940. commenced in the Supreme Court at Hamilton today before Mr Justice Smith. Mr H. T. Gillies, with him Mr J. R. Fitzgerald, appeared for the Crown. Longley was represented by Mr W. J. King, with him Mr D. H. Hall The starting point of the tragedy, said Mr Gillies, was January It. 1940. when Longley took up occupancy of O'Sullivan's Cottage. Relations between landlord and tenant were cordial till the O'Sullivans received notice to vacate their house. They in turn had to put out the Longleys to gain occupancy of their own house. The Longleys made a request to have the house repaired before they would leave on September 22. Notice to quit had already been served. Longley had been out shooting rabbits, while O'Sullivan was working on the property. A GARAGE INCIDENT. The Longleys kept their car in a shed, and while the family was away looking for another house O'Sullivan came and put battens across the doorway of the garage. Longley, feeling that his rights were infringed knocked the battens away and put the car into the shed. O’Sullivan then came to the door of the cottage and shouted out "Hey. Mrs Longley." After some slight dispute with Mrs Longley O'Sullivan said. "You mongrel." Longley walked to a recess and picked up a pea rifle. There was a "plop" and O'Sullivan was shot through the eye. the bullet flattening against the skull Death was instantaneous. Mrs Longley, who was at the door, afterward said she could not see what had happened. Longley after replacing the rifle, wont to a neighbour's place to ring for the police. When he reached the neighbour's Longley collapsed in a faint and when ho recovered. remarked: "I did not mean to hurt him." , The rifle was an old one and what told against Longley was that he was! a good shot. The question to decide was whether Longley intended to kill C’Sullivan. Mr Gillies concluded NOT INSANE. Dr. A. B. Sturtevant, Tauinai unui. ; stated in evidence that accused had' suffered abdominal injuries following a blasting accident three of four years) ago. Since then he had complained of) pains and inability to sleep. He was; highly neurotic and would sit and gaze) at nothing. He would start at the! least thing.

In answer to a question from his Honour, witness said that Longley was not insane but in a state of serious neurosis. He was highly strung and would easily bo aroused at the slightest provocation.