THE SETON MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17144, 25 April 1919, Page 6

THE SETON MURDER.

QUESTION OF INSANITY.

COL. RUTHERFORD'S HISTORY.

. LONDON, Apfil 8. At the trial of Colonel Rutherford on a charge of murdering Major Seton it was mentioned that Colonel Rutherford had appeared before several medical boards during his war service, and he was incapacitated for some time. ' Colonel Hill, an army doctor, stated that the severest form of eczema, from which Rutherford suffered, was liable to cause' frequent insomnia and worry, mid ultimately mental derangement. A definite plea of temporarily insane was entered for the defence. The defending counsel accepted tho accuracy of tho etory of the crime, butargued that absence of any altercation and the needless ferocity of the shooting indicated madness, and not an ordinary spirit of revenge and jealousy. He did not snoot once, saying "I've done ft," but poured bullet after bullet into Seton's body, and was then dazed and vacant. Colonel Rutherford's brother, an army doctor, testified that the prisoner was queer for three months before the tragedy, as the result of an injury to the head ho sustained while playing football in France. He showed great depression during December last, and said, " I'm sorry the war is over, as I hoped to get killed on this visit to France. ' His father's sister died insane in 1913, Dr. Wright, professor of anatomy at the London Hospital, stated that Colonel Rutherford suffered from eczema, which was the worst ho had eve? seen. It resuited Iron) the use of formalin in dissecting. Prisoner was advised to abandon the study of anatomy, but ho persisted, owing to his ambitions. Dr. Wright said ho saw » letter which Colonel Rutherford sent to his wife. It was erratically worded, and like something a madman would write.

As previously reported by cablegram Colonel Rutherford has since been found guilty, but insane. Ho has been ordered to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure.