CLIMAX TO MADMAN'S FRENZIED ACT

NZ Truth, Issue 1263, 13 February 1930, Page 8

CLIMAX TO MADMAN'S FRENZIED ACT

"YES, I KILLED HER ALL RIGHT"

Dramatic Confession of Demented Husband Who Murdered His Wife

JURY FIND THAT OLDFIELD WAS INSANE

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Timaru Representative.)

While his pretty young wife— a bride of only a month— lay peacefully sleeping, the disordered brain of Jack Oldfield, a Seadown farmer, conceived a crime most fiendish m character, and there was enacted m the picturesque surroundings of Hedley's Corner, seven miles from Timaru, one of the most gruesome tragedies ever recorded m this Dominion. ; The unfortunate woman was done to death by blows from an axe, which struck her with terrific force on the left side of the head, above tiie temple.

FOLLOWING an unsuccessful attempt at suicide, the husband confessed to his brother, . Eldred Charles Oldfleld, the dreadful act he- had committed. He was arrested on a charge of wilful murder. VI %vas very depressed. I could not sleep — I would lie awake and think and think. Everything was going wr,ong. I moped round the house on the morning of January 13. I fully intended doing away with myself. .., ..... The feeling came over me all at onee — -then I did this thing:" This, the terse statement of Oldfield, was the only reason advanced" by him for the callous slaying of his wife, when indicted on a murder charge m the Supreme Court at Timaru. The facts relating to the actual crime were not disputed, and the defence was one of insanity. The jury, • after hearing lengthy medical testimony, was asked to decide on two points: (1) Did the' ac-~ cused murder Christine Oldfield? (2) If, so, was he at the time laboring under a natural imbecility, or disease of the mind, to such an extent as to render him incapable of understanding the natural quality of his act and of knowing that such an act was wrong? The answer to both was m the affirmative, and a verdict was returned

of not guilty on the ground of insanity. Mr. Justice Adams, who concurred with the finding of the jury, accordingly directed that the prisoner should be detained m strict custody m Sunnyside Mental Hospital until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice was known. ■ i Although Oldfield's brutal crime was devoid of any apparent mo ; tive, the defence was /that the accused had been m a depressed state of mind because the farm was not paying its way. This, it was contended, assisted the ,development of melancholia, from which (according to the medical men) the accused. was suffering. Documentary evidence was also produced m support of the contention m the form of a letter written - by the deceased woman to her sister. On the other hand, the accused's brother, Eldred Charles Oldfleld, informed the court that there should have been no cause for worry. The accused's farm, which comprised portion of the Oldfield Estate, was situated on some •of the best land m South Canterbury, and was m an excellent state of cultivation. The accused's friendship with "Chrissie" Sutherland, a pretty Christchurch masseuse, had existed a long time prior to their marriage, which took place m the Cathedral City on December 19 of last year. After a short honeymoon, they returned on .December 28 to the little homestead at Hedley's Corner; .and there, according to the evidence, they were happily settled until the hus-^ band's brutal crime ended with tragic suddenness a short life of marital contentment. The trial, which lasted all day, was witnessed by a crowded public gallery. Mr. Justice Adams was on the bench. Mr. W. D. Campbell, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. F. J. Rolleston, formerly Minister of Justice, represented the accused. There was a stir m the court when Oldfleld entered, escorted by two warders. On account of an injury to his leg. received at the war, he was allowed to remain seated during the trial. Before calling Dr. F. A. Scannell. Mr. Campbell said that the jury would have no difficulty m arriving at a conclusion that the deceased woman was killed . by her husband. The doctor arrived., at Hedley's Corner at 7.30 a.m.. He found Mrs. Oldfield m the front bedroom. ' There was a gaping wound on her head. She was dead. Death was due to fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain. . The wound was consistent with one caused through being struck with " a sharp instrument. / Under the bed lay an axe, which was smeared with blood. The deceased lay m a pool of blood, which also was spattered on the wall at the head of the bed. Mr. Rolleston: Do you think that the deceased was asleep when she was attacked? — Yes. There were no signs of any struggle. The principal witness for the Crown, Eldred Charles Oldfield, brother of the accused, then entered the witness-box. He related a dramatic story of events subsequent to the tragedy. He was engaged, m milking his cows, he said, when the accused came into the yard. He had a shotgun m his possession, : which had been obtained from Eldred's house. "My brother asked me if I had any cartridges," said Oldfield. "I told him there were some In the shed. He eventually found two, and remarked

that he intended to shoot rabbits on his place."

Eldred went on with the milking, and two or three minutes later his brother called out: "Good-bye, Eldred!" On looking up, Eldred saw his brother bending over the gun. He rushed at him and heard the hammer click twice before he closed with him. There ensued a desperate struggle, and the ploughman, Arthur Duncan, came to the assistance of Eldred Oldfield. ,The accused was overpowered and strapped up. Turning to his brother, the accused said: "You may as well let me finish it; I've killed Chrlssie." Mr. Campbell: Why did the gun not go off when the accused pulled the trigger? — My brother did not know how to operate the safety catch. The gun was loaded m both barrels. What did you do then? — I went to my brother's house which is further down the road. Describe what you found? — I went into the front bedroom, and saw my brother's wife lying m a pool of blood on the bed. She was still breathing, so I immediately sent for the police and a doctor. Cross-examined by Mr. Rolleston, Eldred Oldfield said that both he and his brother had served overseas at the war. The accused Avas wounded twice — m the head, and the leg. He also had had trench fever. So far as Eldred Oldfield was aware, his brother was happily married. He was a very hard worker, but lately he had appeared to be "a bit muddled." This, m the opinion of Eldred, was the result of working too hard. STRUGGLE FOR GUN Oldfield had' been worrying about his financial position and thought that he would not be able to bear the additional expense of housekeeping. Mr. Rolleston: Did you notice : any peculiarity about the accused? — He appeared to be "short m the grain," although he was never "short" with me. Then who was he "short" with? — Mostly with the horses. His brother was always talking about his money troubles, continued Oldfield. He seemed to think that he could not make the farm pay now that he was married. There was no need for him to have worried; m fact, Eldred said he had offered to lend him money. . « ' Apart from his father's estate, Oldiield had received £300 from an aunt. He had also obtained £800 from the estate; of this amount £500 had been used to pay off a loan. On the Saturday night before the tragedy, Eldred and his brother had discussed the latter's financial position. He was solvent. The stock and equipment on the farm were clear.' The accused had accepted a loan from his brother. The struggle that took place between the two brothers was related by Arthur Duncan, a laborer, employed by Eldred Oldfield. Duncan stated that between 6.30 and 7 a.m. on January 13 he had seen Eldred lying on his back m the yard: Jack was bending over him trying to obtain possession of a gun. " "I went to the assistance of Eldred," i said Duncan, "and' between us we overpowered Jack. I asked what :i was the matter, and the accused said: Tve killed my wife.' And again to Eldred: I've killed Chrissie." 1 A neighbor named Waite then came on the scene, and Eldred went to his brother's house to see what he had done. Mr. Rolleston: Did the accused ap-> pear depressed after his marriage? — I think he was worrying over things. Would you say the accused was glum and irritable? — Yes. And he became worse after his marriage? — Yes. Mr. Campbell: Was he glum and irritable before he was married? — No. Was he cheerful before his marriage? — Yes. I see; and so he changed into a glum and irritable man after his marriage? — Well, he became irritable. Did you ever ask him how he likei married life?— Yes. . HIS CONFESSION And what did he say? — He said: "It's all right; but there is more worry." \ Henry John Newlands Waite, farmer, of Seadown, told the court that •he had gone -to Eldred Oldfield's place on the morning of the" tragedy. The accused had his hands strapped behind his back, and was closely guarded by Eldred Oldfield and Dunca"n. The former said: "I'll leave my brother m your charge. I'm going to see what he has done." Accused -then said: "I killed her all right. I hope Eldred doesn't faint at the sight of the blood. I realise now what I've done. She was a goqd girl to me. Her poor old mother will be cut up." Oldfield appeared to be quite rational, said Waite. Mr. Rolleston: But would you have guarded a' sane man so closels'? — We had to, considering what he had done. Constable Southworth, of Temuka, gave lengthy evidence regarding the facts of the crime, which have already been published m "Truth." In company with Constable Kearney, also of Temuka, he arrested Oldfield at Eldred Oldfield's farm on a charge of murder.' When warned that anything he said might be used as evidence against him. the accused merely shook his head; he made non-eply. A little later he said: VI realise now what I've done." Oldfleld was taken to the Temuka Police Station, where he was searched. There, he- said: "I was worried over things. I thought I had ruined the poor girl's life. I can't say anything." Corroborating this evidence, Constable Kearney said that when at the potion Olflflpid had asked if he could make a statement.. Writing material was supplied, and he began to write. He had penned only a few words when he began to ponder. He said: "I could say a lot. I was worrying

about the future. I think it as well to ■ write nothing down at all. I think I will leave it for the time being and "tear this thing up. I must have been mad at the time. ' -. ■ ■ ■ A few minutes later, said Constable Kearney; Oldfield again asked for writing paper. He wrote something on the page, but tore it up; He then said: "I loved the girl. I went to a lot of trouble-getting the house ready for her. She was the best girl m the world.-. . ..-.-. Things were not too bright.' . .■ . I could not sleep." " To Detective Lindsay Studholme, of Timafu, the accused said: "Oh, God! Why did I do it. I am sorry for the girl's poor mother. - 1 am not insane. I deserve all that iscoming to me." This concluded the case "for . the prosecution. In his opening address Mr. Rolleston said that the murder had/been proved, but the jury had to consider, the state of the accused's mind when the crime was committed. Evidence would be called to .show that the accused was insane -when Mrs. Oldfield was killed. As an indication of the state of affairs that existed m the Oldfield household prior to the tragedy, Mr. Rolleston produced a letter written by the deceased woman to her sister four, days before her death. ; It Avas as follows: — 11 . . . .1 get very tired,, and John becomes so worried' if he sees me .ooKing tired, so I always pull a long face when I see him coming I However, I suppose I will soon . at. useo to it. I'm afraid, Annie, things *are far from' satisfactory on the farm. It has come as an awful shock. No wonder Jack has been worried about money. "The fact of the matter is that the farm is gradually dropping money every year, and is not paying. . . . Jack is nearly off his head with worry, i what with trying to pacify him and to keep a brave face myself, I can i : tell you it is hard. • 'I really have been too dispirited to write before. I don't know what we will do, I can't see how he ca.i make a success of this place at all. It looks as if he will lose every penny. Now 1 must stop. .Write to. me soon. Your loving sister, "Chrissie." Two medical witnesses were called for the defence — Dr. T. M. Beale, a mental specialist, of Christchurch, and Dr. F. F. A. Ulrich, of. Timaru, who at one time was on the staff at Sunnyside Mental Hospital. The following question was put to Dr. Beale' by Mr. Rolleston: Did the accused, m your opinion, when he killed his wife, possess the power of forming his own rational judgment, substantially unbiased by mental disease as to the true nature and quality, including the moral and legal quality of the act? ' . Dr: Beale's' reply was that the accused might have had such irresistible impulse that he would not study the nature of his crime. It was probable that he would not have the power to form mental judgment. Mr. Rolleston: How do you arrive at that conclusion? — I form my opinion from a statement made to me by the accused. The following statement made by Oldfield was then handed m by Dr. Beale: "I have not been feeling well for some time. When I went out with the team I felt all of a shake. I was very depressed. This became worse after I returned from my honeymoon. I could not sleep. I would 1 lie awake and think and think and think. Everything was going wrong. "I got up on the morning of January 13. I moped round the house. I fully

intended to do away "with myself. I had no time to think over things. "The feeling came over me all at onee — and then I did this thing. I did not realise what I had done until some time after. I don't know why I did it. She was a good wife, with high ideals." To Mr. Rolleston, Dr. Beale said that the accused's irritability was the premonitory symptom leading up to the attack. Oldfield was undoubtedly of univfi at the time of the murder. JHe was suffering from melancholia, and m such a state he would not differentiate between right and ■wrong. Mr. Rolleston: What opinion have you m regard to the accused going and getting the gun at his brother's place? —He was actively suicidal. Do you think that the accused's mind was clouded? — Yes. That is borne out by his remark to the constable: "Why did I do it?" His condition then was that, of a man emerging from an acute brainstorm. Would the fact that after the tragedy he could recall the details alter your opinion as to insanity?— l would still be of the opinion that the accused was of unsound mind. Was^his act one of his own independent volition m *a true sense, or was it an act dictated or dominated by some influence arising from actual mental disease, which influence he was unable by his will to control? — It was an act committed through his diseased

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiil mental condition, which he had" not the. power to- control. In a case of this nature is it important to see the subject as soon as possible after the happening? — Yes. Did you notice any difference when you saw the accused a second time? — Yes. He appeared to be more mentally composed. - Would an - improvement m the accused's state of mind be consistent with his form of mental disease? — Yes. " Mr. .Campbell (to Dr. .Beale) : I suppose you have been regarding: the ao- s cused purely from a medical point! of view? — That is so. _ , You appreciate the fact that the teat m law of a man's responsibility m such a condition is whether he knew what he was doing?— Yes. I believe the accused knew what he was doing, but he did not stop to think. Was he certifiably! insane when he killed his wife?— l should say so. - MEDICAL EVIDENCE Would you certify ~the accused insane at the present moment? — It is doubtful. I would not certify him insane if strict supervision were exercised, as he has still suicidal tenden- < cies. Mr. Rolleston: When you express • doubt about certifying the accused insane, you have no doubt but that he was insane nt the time of the murder?— None whatever. His condition has improved. The evidence of Dr. Beale was corroborated by Dr. Ulrich. In his opinion, Oldfield, at the time of the tragedy, was hot capable of exercising rational judgment. The act was due to the mental disease from which he was suffering. ' ' In 1920 Oldfleld had come under the care of the doctor m, the> Timaru Military Hospital. At that time Oldt field did not sleep well and was constantly dreaming. Dr. Ulrich said he had examined Oldfield after the tragedy. ' Mr. -Rolleston: In your examination, did you notice any peculiarity? — Yes. He had a marked stammer. When he can't express himself the voluntary act spreads from the ordinary muscles of articulation to those of the face and the head. i What other conclusion would you arrive at from his condition ? — I should say he had been mentally depressed. HoWiWould-ryou desci'ibe Oldfleld's co^^aint?— Melancholia. What is your opinion about the accused's impulse to take his wife's life? — Melancholies the "world over have a fear of impending calamity, and to avert it they take the lives of those near and dear to them and then suicide themselves. When do you think that the accused intended to suicide? — On the morning of the tragedy. He had thought the thing over the day before, and decided to take his wife with him. What was the condition of Oldfield when you made a second examination ? — He was calmer, which was due to his removal from the scene of his worries. By permission of the court, the Crown called two medical witnesses m rebuttal of the evidence for the defence: Dr. Alexander McKillop, medical supei-intendent of Sunnyside Mental Hospital, and Dr. T. W. J. Charles, medical superintendent of Seacliff Mental Hospital. Dr. McKillop agreed with ,the evidence of the defence that the accused was insane at the time of the tragedy, but, In his opinion, the accused knew he was doing wrong when he committed the act, which was not the result of a sudden impulse. '

Mr. Rolleston: Do you consider the accused was capable of reasoning at the time of the. tragedy? Dr. McKillop: The accused is a melancholic, and he would know that to kill is wrong. He would not take steps to cover up his crime, as he had intended taking his own life. Do you think that he considered the legal aspect at the time? — No. The opinion was also expressed fay Dr. McKHfop that Oldfiefd, before the tragedy, had reasoned that the best thing for him to do was to commit suicide, but on second thoughts he had decided to take i~;~ .A.:f e with him, because of the disgrace. V. The symptoms displayed by the accused were difficult to sheet home to any particular form of insanity. According to Dr. Charles, Oldfield had planned what he intended to do. He would know that the killing of a person was wrong, but no doubt felt justified m a state of misery. The act would not be impulsive: Oldfield ho doubt had toyed with the idea, and had gone over it lots of times. After counsel had addressed the jury, his Honor summed up, and the jiu-y retired at 5.27 p.m., returning twenty minutes later with a verdict of not Ruiltv on grounds of insanity. Mrs. Oldfleld^ was at one time empi ovefl as a masseuse at King George Hospital, Rotorua, where she was very popular with the. patients and staff.