" BEST OUT OF HIS MISERY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11686, 22 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

" BEST OUT OF HIS MISERY."

FATHER'S EXTRAORDINARY

TEMPT TO KILL A CONSUMPTIVE SOX.

A STORY of an alleged attempted murder of I -i ' i ~ • . , : a son. with a remarkable confession by the I father, was told at the North London Police Court latelv.

A man named William Kent stated that on April 19 he heard screams of "Minder!'' and inconsequence went down into the basement of 125, High-street, Stoke Newington.

In the room he, saw Samuel Holding, a draper, holding his seventeen-year-old son. who was bleeding profusely from the head. He sent for the police.

When arrested Holding simply remarked. " All right: don't show me up." On the way to the station, after being warned by Detective Dixon, he said. " I have thought, about it for the last eight months. This morning I meant to kill him. He is consumptive, and has caused a lot of trouble at home. I thought he was best out of his misery, poor boy. i don't know hoi'.-** plucked it)) courage to do it. May Cod forgive me!"

According to the officer, Holding seemed to think it was for the boy's sake that he had attempted to take his life. Dr. Hartley, of the Metropolitan Hospital, said he found on the boy's head eight wounds.

On the monning of the 19th Holding, it appeared, borrowed a large knife from a neighbouring tradesman. Prisoner was remanded until such time as the son is able to give evidence.