ATHEIST'S AWFUL DEED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14925, 24 February 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

ATHEIST'S AWFUL DEED.

DECLARES HIS RIGHT TO KILL HIS son:

VERDICT OF MURDER.

Extraordinary evidence was given at Norwich, when an inquest was held on tho body of a boy of tour, named Augustus Reeves, who* it is alleged, was murdered by his father, Albert Reeves, a printer's* reader. The father had left King-ston-on-Thames a month ago, and bad since been out of work. While bis wife was absent he took his infant son from the cradle and murdered it, inflicting dreadful mutilations. Reeves's mother-in-law said the father was very fond of the child. There was no reason for him to worry about finances, as witness had private means, and could have pulled him through. He was an atheist, and was very independent . Reeves cut his own throat after killing the child, and while being examined by a doctor he observed, "They say I am a lunatic, but don't believe it." Reeves, though terribly wounded, is making recovery. Four letters were found in the bedroom. Two of these Reeves had written on the eve of the tragedy. In one, half a column long, he intimated that his chief reason for what bo had done was the state of his sight. Ho wrote :— Astounding Letters. " Having resolved on taking my own life, I began to be tormented with thoughts of my son Augustus. After a careful and long consideration of all the circumstances, 1 came to the conclusion that bo. being part of myself, must perish with me. Among tho resolutions which weighed most with me. were the following :— "'Firstly, if it should be that this child is cursed, as is its father, with, a wanton moral nature, then I would be doing tho best both for it and society by exterminating tho boy.' •'' Secondly, I do not consider his mother a qualified person to attend to his upbringing without my presence and guidance. It is not to be expected that she should bring up the children as I should like; and. again, she being out of sympathy with (or. rather. I should say. not being capable of completely comprehending) my views and my principles, neither is "it to be expected she would bring the child up in a thoroughly untrammelled and unconventional way. And then there is his grandmother—but wo will spare him a lifetime of that.' "'Thirdly, as the child would, if left, start out economically handicapped, and as his upkeep and training would entail a strain on his mother, I have thought it best to savo him from tho maelstrom of modern industrial strife.* " But. above all other reasons, is the fact that as he is part of me, so L halve the right to decide what I shall do with him, and as I have resolovoed on taking my own life I must also take his."

In another letter to his wife, after announcing his intention to commit tho crime. Reeves said : —

" If my father should daro to writo and offer any slobbery sentiment, reply by thanking* him for* his kindness with, my curses."

Referring to his brother, to whom ho haa written for money without effect, he wrote : — a

" Unless he can offer a valid defence for such callous conduct, treat his condolences with the contempt they deserve. Bo careful the insurance people do not rush you. They will if they get tho chance."

A verdict of "Wilful murder" against Reeves was returned.