TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21346, 22 November 1932, Page 6

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

YOUNG MAN'S DEATH

ARREST OF AGED FATHER

ACCUSED ATTENDS FUNERAL

[from OUR OWN correspondent] SYDNEY, Nov. 17 The lot of Nathaniel Govett, aged 81, white-haired and deaf, was on Saturday last the most terrible that could fall to a father. In the morning in the dock at Central Police Court—a father charged with the murder of his son. In the after, noon at South Head Cemetery—a father at his son's burial.

Tho court ceremony was short and ordinary; the funeral was the strangest Sydney has known. " The police would like a remand until November 21. We wish to have the defendant medically examined and kept under observation," Sergeant Toole said. He alleged that the dead youth, Philip Govett, aged 18, was seen coming from his bedroom at his hoijpe at Woollahra, with blood streaming frotn his face and head at 4.15 a.m. on Friday. Behind him was his father. The -{joy later died hi hospital. Govett's counsel asked that the father should be allowed to attend the funeral There was no disputing the fact that between him and his dead son had been much affection, he declared. The police later gave permission, and Govett arrived in a car at the funeral parlors, accompanied by three detectives.

Women predominated in the crowd outside, but only immediate relatives and friends of the de£d youth followed the hearse. Red and white blooms were piled high on the coffin. Behind came the police car, in which the white-haired, whitemoustached old man sat beside a detective, looking neither to right nor left. Bent with age Govett tottered feebly through the cemetery to the graveside, leaning on the arm of his son-in-law, Mr.F. Massong. He shook hands with the other mourners, and, as the red coffin waa lowered into the ground, Nathaniel. Govett was looking tranquilly at friends. " They just brought me from—" Govett began, and his son-in-law drew his attention to the grave. Govett looked at it, and then leaned over and stared at the red coffin, while the clergyman continued reading the service.

Afterward, the old man turned and walked slowly toward his car. Two weeping daughters went to iiim. He embraced them and kissed them. " There, there. Don't cry, dear," he said. „

Then he stepped into the car and wa taken to the Long Bay prison.