"MERCY KILLERS"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23879, 1 February 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

"MERCY KILLERS"

Pathetic Domestic Tragedies Caused by War Conditions

TWO tragedies, for which war-time conditions were responsible, were revealed at the Old Bailey when a "devoted son," and the wife of a blind man weire charged with murder. The son murdered his mother to save her from "suffering and being dragged to shelters at night," and the woman killed her husband after their home was bombed.

DESCRIBED as a City of London A.R.P. worker, James Miller, aged 45, of Bethnal Green, admitted in the witness-box that he strangled his 75-year-old mother, Elizabeth Miller, to whom he was devoted. Miller, in evidence, said ho frequently went to see his mother, who was a tiny, frail old woman. She spent her nights at various tube stations, and complained to him from time to time that she'had to sit on the steps in the station and then walk home. Miller declared that he seemed to think it was all wrong that an old lady of 75 should be treated like that. Mr. Garland, for the defence, told the jury that Miller, quite misguidedly, of course, thought he was doing an act of mercy to his mother fay killing her. In his submission. Miller was more to be pitied than blamed for what he did. Pity, Not Blame Miller was found guilty, but insane, and Mr. Justice Wrottesley ordered him to be detained during the King's pleasure. Before being brought into Court. Mrs. Ida Ethel K-odwav, aged 61. machinist, of Hackney Wick, who was accused of murdering her 71-year-old

blind husband, Joseph William Rodway, told the medical officer of Holloway Prison: "I intend to plead guilty, as that will get everything settled, but what I did was right." This was stated in evidence by the medical officer, who added: "She said sho was entirely unconcerned about the result of the trial." The medical officer waa the only witness called, and the trial lasted hut a few minutes. "Worried to Death" It had been revealed at the Police Court proceedings that Mrs. Rod way's husband had been blind since July, r.nd she had done everything she could for him. On September 21 their home was bombed, and the husband was taken to hospital. Later, he went to the home of Mrs. Rodway's sister. On October 1 Mrs. Rodway made a dramatic statement to her sister: "I have murdered rriv husband. I want to find a policeman." Evidence disclosed that the man had been killed with a hatchet and a carving knife, and in a statement to the police Mrs. Hod way was alleged to have said: "I was worried to death with no one to help me. We had not had any quarrel." Mrs. Rod well was found guilty, but insane, and ordered to be detained during the King's pleasure.