CAPITAL CHARGE REDUCED

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 122, 16 February 1921, Page 8

CAPITAL CHARGE REDUCED

THE MAROHEMO TRAGEDY NEEDHAM FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER Bv Telegraph—Preen Aeeooiation. Auckland, February 15. Tho second murder charge in tho criminal sessions calendar was taken to-day before Mr. Justice Sitringer and a jury at the Supreme Court. Thomas Needham, an elderly farmer, was tried for the alleged murder of his son, William Rawlins Needham, aged 17, at Marohemo, on January 16. Mr. Merelith (Crown Prosecutor) appeared for the Crown, and ihe defence was conducted by Mr. Endean and Air. Huband. A plea of not guilty was tendered. Mr. Meredith said thalt accused made a savage attack on the lad, practically battering his skull to bits. The tragedy took place on accused’s farm at Maroliemo at which there were living accused. his wife, twg daughters, the deceased son, and a lady visitor. Counsel said that after the attack accused asked one of his daughters to shoot him. Later he cut his throat and jumped into a well, but he climbed out again, and a neighbour persuaded him to go to bed. "Billie swore at mo,’’ was the statement Needham afterwards made to his daughter when she asked why he had made the attack. Then accused added: "I am sorry, girl, that I have brought you to thU. Give me some poison.” Winifred Edna Needham. 20 years of age, said that during milking on the morning of the occurrence her father, the accused, exclaimed to her brother: You l itt l e . We won’t get finished this morning. You are a lot of - Later, when her father and her brother were in a separating room she suddenly heard accused shout: "Down, you—. I-have-K ot you at last,” and he shrieked and veiled and hissed. Witness rushed in and saw her brother on the floor villi a gash on his head, and her father striking him with a long weapon. .Witness went out and called until those m the house heard her. She returned to tho separating room, where she saw that hei brother's head had been battered about Her father had gone out and she put her apron under the boy s head, as ho was still breathing. . , . Accused wept during part of his daughter’s evidence. , Cross-examined, the girl said that h father was 66 years of age. She luid heard that at the age of eleven in Englund her father fell from a tree,<severely cutting his face, and that he out fared from sunstroke at the ago of 29. About three years ago he had received a blow on the head from a shackle pm. At times her father was far from normal. and his behaviour had been such that one member of the family thought he should be examined by a doctor Before Christmas he was actually sent to town to be examined by a doctor, but he went to a chemist instead. After further evidence, the case for the defence was taken. . Mr. Endean, addressing the jury, said that medical evidence would bo given as Io accused’s mental condition. Even it that were not accepted, it was open to the jury to say that there had been sufficient provocation to deprive an ordinary man of his self-control. Such a finding would reduce the charge ib one of manslaughter. Mrs Needham, accused# wife, sain that she had been married for nearly forty years. Her husband suffered from irritability and delusions. She corroborated her daughter’s statements as t. 'his strange conduct. , Three doctors were called and stated Hint in their opinion accused was null- i ject to fits, of insanity. The prosecution called three doctors who gave evidence in rebuttal. After a retirement of an hour and a half, Mie jury returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account ot accused's age and temperament. Sentence was deferred.