A Recent Tragedy.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 February 1921, Page 3

A Recent Tragedy.

A VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. .rei ness Associaciou.) Auckland, Last, Night. The second) jnurd-r charge in the criminal sessions was taken to-day at) .lie (Supreme ’Court, when Thomas .Needham, an elderly farmer, was tried ior the murder of his son, William Rawlins Needham, aged 17, ou January 16. -Ur Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, said riie accused Irad made a savage aiaack on the lad, practically bartering his skull to bits. The tragedy rook plact on the accused’s farm at iVlarohom*. *■ A daughter of accused gave evidence that her father and brother quarrelled in the separating room. She suddenly h ard accused shout: ‘’Down you , I have got you at last,’’ and he shrieked and yelled aud hissed. “Witness rushed in and saw her brother on the door with a gash on his head and her father striking him with a long weapon. She had heard that at the age of eleven in England her father fell from a tree, severely ortting his face, and also suffered from sunstroke at the age of 29. About three years ago he hacb received a blow on the head from a shackle pin. At rimes her father wits far from normal, and his behaviour and conduct had been such that one member of the family thought he should be examined by a doctor. Mrs Needham said she had been married nearly forty years, Her husband suffered from irritability and delusions. Three doctors were called and' stated that in their opinion accused was subject to fits of insanity. The prosecution called three doctors, who gave evidence in rebuttal. After a retirement of one and a-half hours the jury returned' a yerdict of guilty of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of accused’s age and) temperament. Sentence was deferred.