THE NAIKE TRAGEDY

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16359, 2 November 1918, Page 7

THE NAIKE TRAGEDY

■ INSANITY OF FATHER. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM. 5 HAMILTON, November 1. An inquest was hold before Mr Rawsor., to-day, touching the death of Joan Violet Morine, aged throe months, who was the victim of an attack by bcr father, at Naike, on October -3ru. The evidence of the mother was to tho effoct that her husband stayed athome from October 20th to -3rd, amine which timo he complained or peing iir. About o p.m. on the 23rd, witness, lier husband, and the child wero in the houso together. "Witness was speaking ou the telephone to a neighbour, -*f rs Griffin, the others being in an adjoining room While at. the telephone, sho heard tho child scream, autl running into the Yoom she found tho child lying on t.ie bod with blood streaming her ®yes. H.er husband liac.. a tab.efork in his hand. ... Asked how he could hurt "a baby that, ho replied that "'lt had. to • to done." , , , Witness told her husband, who she knew n.ust bo out of his mind (lie had been in a mental hospital before), to go and get the cows, and rang up Mrs Griffen, and asked her to come to her assistance and get a doctor. Before Airs Gnfiin arrived,, her husband returned and tried to get into toe house, but she had the door fastened. . With Mrs Griffin she went with tho ch'ld to another neighbour's house. On Dr. Martin's arrival the child was attended to and taken to the hospital next dav . A verdict was returned that deceased died from injuries inflicted by her father, who was undoubtedly insane. j Morine was not present. Dr. Stride s certificate stating that ho was of unsound mind.