MURDER IN SON'S PRESENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

MURDER IN SON'S PRESENCE

BOY'S TERRIBLE STORY.

The evidence of a son of fourteen years, who is stated to have seen his father murder another man, and then draw a razor across his own throat, was given at the recent inquest on the body of Charles Gribben, who lived at Jarrow. Robert Upton, who was under arrest on a charge of murder, was stated to be still in the hospital, suffering from self-inflicted wounds.

Joseph Upton, a bright-looking boy, | fourteen years of age, stated that he had lived with his father, Robert Upton. About 3.30 a.m one morning, he was aroused by the sounds of fighting. He saw his father kneeling on Gribben's chest, who was in the bed. His father s left hand was over Gribben mouth. Gribben said to the witness in a quiet voice : " Joe, he is cutting my throat. Witness pushed his father over to the far side of the bed. He saw an open razor in his father's right hand. Gribben tried to get up, but his father rushed at him, and said : "You shall not get up." Witness's father put the razor across Gribben's throat, and blood flowed over the pillow. His father then ran out of the Tiouse, and witness went into room. Shortly afterwards witness's father entered Evans's room and commenced to cut at his own throat. Witness was frightened and ran out and told the police. He identified the razor produced as the property of his father. The police surgeon described the wounds on Gribben and Upton. The wounds in Gribben's throat were, in his opinion, of too extensive a character to have been self-inflicted. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Robert Upton.