PLEA OF INSANITY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 37, 13 February 1924, Page 3

PLEA OF INSANITY

HIGGINS AND WAIKINO

TRAGEDY

REMARKABLE DELUSIONS ALLEGED.

(BI TBLEGB.APH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 12th February The trial of John Christopher Higgins for the murder in connection with tho Bhooting of two boys at tlie Waikino bcnool, on 19th October, was continued to-day in the Supreme Court. , Mr. Sullivan, counsel for the prisoner, continuing his argument that the prisoner was insane.ot the time of the crime, said that a. Waihi solicitor, James Montague would state that for years Higgins had called at his office every week in re-gard-to supposed grievances against his neighbours. At first Montague believed lhat they were genuine, but afterwards came to th© conclusion that there'was nothing in w"hat the man was talking about. At first he charged a guinea for aij interview, then 10s 6d, and finally nothing. On one occasion in which a motor-cyclist had whizzed past Higgins's cart, accused said that he would ••put a hole in the fellow's hat," and that he was one of his enemies. On being told by a farmer that it was foolish to talk like that, Hijrgiiis replied, "You show me a law that says I cannot shoot off his hat." "Mr*. Higgins will tell yon what I may describe as a very extraordinary story indeed,'* continued counsel. "Their second home on the farm was a log cabin built by Higgins himself, and it was when they occupied this place that his delusions began. He thought the neighbours came to his incubator and killed his chickens, so he cut a loop-hoe in the wall through which to watch for his supposed enemies. Later, they shifted into an iron house,.and Higgins actually made a trap-door through which to escape in the event of people approaching the place. He declared that his neighbours watched all his movements through telescopes, and.he refused to go into the houso unless the blinds were -down-land the lights lowered. The last home occupied on the farm was a "wooden structure, and Higgins bored holes in tho new building. to see out on one sidu where there were no windows. So convinced was he that he was being molested, that when he- and Mrs.' Higgins vrero sawing timber he used to lock-their*little son in the house to,watch over the property. At night the little fellow was put into tho stable, where he had to remain guarding a horse until morning. Higgins believed that the neighbours stole queen bees from his hives and put their cattle in his paddock. He also frequently held conversations with imag mary persons." Counsel concluded by stating that medical evidence would be called to show that Higgins was insane. The hearing was adjourned. - -