BABY MURDERED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 August 1924, Page 5

BABY MURDERED.

— FATHER’S CONFESSION. . DISCOVERY BY MOTHER, child With throat cut. (by TBLEGEAPH ■ —PRESS ASSOOIAIP'ON.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 5. A tragedy occurred at Ponsonby this afternoon, a male child named Desmond Keogh, aged sixteen months, dving as the result of having his throat cut. His lather, Harry Jose Da - Peters Keogh, aged 42, of 87 Franklin Road, i s in custody on a charge of murder. Mrs Keogh was out working and the eldest girl, aged 6-j years, was at school, leaving Keogh with the three younger girls and Desmond at home. When Mrs Keogh returned with the eldest daughter at about 3.30 she found the body of the baby in a cot in a. bedroom, the body being covered with a rug. Keogh was sitting in the kitchen, and immediately she went in it is stated he said: “I’ve killed Desmond.” He pointed to a knife and said : ‘‘J did it with that.” The eldest girl immediately sent for the police, and .it is alleged that, when arrested, Keogh said that he had intended to cut his own .throat and thought it a pity to leave his only hoy behind. He said lie was cutting the baby’s lunch about 1.30 when he felt a temptation to stab the child. He put the knife down and walked about for some time, but again lie felt lie must take the child’s life and his own. The baby was then in the kitchen, and he cut his throat, then carrying it into the bedroom. It is alleged that Keogh, said he had consulted a doctor and had a presentiment he would not live long. He further said that lie tried to cut his own throat, but inflicted only minor cuts. It is stated that Keogh was an inmate of a mental hospital for a. week in May, hut was discharged as not being insane.