ALLEGED MURDER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 February 1927, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER.

THE SLOMAN CASE. EVIDENCE OF INSANITY. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) PALMERSTON N., Feb. 8. At the Supreme Court the hearing was commenced to-day on two charges of murder against- Wm. George Sloman. In outlining the case, the Crown Prosecutor stated that the parties had lived at Levin for seven or eight years. On the morning of November 4 last- an employe, named Strong, on going to work at the -accused's poultiy farm, found the bouse was shut and no one was about. Investigating, lie saw the accused’s son lying oil a bed with his head battered. The polic? were summoned, when they found Mrs Sloman and her daughter in it similar condition, and the accused unconscious, having taken poison. Mrs Sloman died on the way to the hospital and Rita Sicilian died later. The evidence of Arthur Horace Strong was on the lines of the Crown I’josecntor’s statement, The witness faid that Sloman suffered from insomnia, and had taken bromide to assist him to s eep. Sloman was -a devoted father and husband. Some time prior to the tragedy Sloman suffered from financial aiid other worries, which caused a d. pressed state. Constable Bagrie, stationed ;at Levin, detailed tlie finding of the victims badly’ injured. In the scullery he found a blood-stained tomahawk. On the tab’e wei'i- spread out- three letter® -signed “iV.G.S.,” one saying, inter alia: “I sent my wife and children to heaven. Am going also.” Further evidence related to flic, d-’uirineation of the handwriting of the letters as accused’s, also as to the accused’s Mate of health before the tragedy, he having been advised to undeigo a -serious operation. Dr. Fraser, medical -superintendent li. tne hospital; when accused was admitted said that the accused, after admission, was suffering from melancholia, and he considered him of ,un-. sound mind. He was quite prepared, after what lie had -seen, to -sign an admission to a mental hospital. At the conclusion of the Crown’s case, counsel for the defence -said he would endeavour to prove insanity. Many’ witnesses were called by the de ence to support the plea, including neighbours, who testified to prisoner’s ever-growing depression up to the time of the tragedy, as a result of -business worries. It- was stated that Sloman bad previously expressed his intention of committing suicide. Henry John Tyzard, medical superintendent of Porirua Mental Hospital, said he had examined accused and found him suffering from alternating or circular insanity. Sufferer® from tin's type of insanity alternated from melancholia to mania, and melancholic patients, if not actually suicidal, were always potentially so. Sloman did not properly understand the nature of his act, hi® state of health impairing his reasoning powers. Other medical evidence of a similar nature was aiso given. His Honour, in summing up, said it was abundantly plain that the deed was either the act of a fiend or a madman. It had been shown that Sloman was not a fiend, but a good husband and father. It was a singular thing that a text-book by a- well-known authority on mental diseases contained almost a parallel example withrthat be ore the Court. This authority pointed out that a suicidal melancholic who killed his wife usually kills her as being a sharer in his ovm personality, and when he rationalises his impulses, explains his conduct by’ saying that he could not leave one he loved to face the world alone, and that his motive- was to save his victim from suffering and to protect her against some more terrible affliction which threatened them joint!y. _____