A FATHER'S CRIME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 63, 15 March 1900, Page 6

A FATHER'S CRIME.

CUTS HIS INFANT'S THROAT.

WELLINGTON, March 10.

A horrible murder was committed this evening, John DeightOn, described as a cabinetmaker, aged 39, residing in Upper CuVa-street, murdering his 13 weeks' old infant, named Moaua Caroliae Rebecca Deighton.

For some tune Deighton had complained of the neglect of the murdered infant by its mother. During the absence of the latter from home this evening, Deighton took a razor and cut the infant's throat almost from ear to ear. The spinal cord was severed, death being instantaneous. After committing the crime Deighton proceeded to the Mount Cook police station and gave himself up, giving as the reason for taking the life of the child that he thought it would be better off dead than neglected as it had been. He was quite rational.

WELLINGTON, March 12.

The inquest on.the body of the infant child Deighton resulted in a verdict of murder against John Deighton. The evidence in the main bore out the particulars already telegraphed, with the addition that accused in his statement to the police had declared his intention was to take the life of his wife and child, and his own. The wife was absent when he committed the murder of the infant, and his nerve

failed him when about to take his own

life. He says he was quite sane at the time, and never gave way to interperaoce, having only once in his life been u»der the influence of liquor.