MURDER TRIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13907, 7 November 1919, Page 4

MURDER TRIAL.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 7. At the Supreme Court the trial commenced of .Tames Reside, a returned soldier, on a charge of murdering Christopher Carr at- Stronvar. Wairarapa. on sth September. Judge Chapman was on the bench. Mr Macassey appearing for the Crown and Messrs Wili'ord and Prangncll for the defence. Mr Macassey in opening the case said the defence would he that accused was of unsound mind when he committed the murder. Evidence would be aivon on similar lines to that in the lower court, and at the inquest. Alexander Beside, father of accused. asked by the Judge if his son was queer before he went to the front, said: "Yes. your Honor. He went the same wnv as his mother." Mr Wilford said it would that the mother was in a mental hospital. Witness, cross-examined, said his son had the idea that Carr was in league with someone outside with a bomb _to blow them up. The bomb idea was continually in his mind. Accused prim- - to going to the war had a despondent tendency, and on one occasion gave himself up to the police at Masterton to prevent himself from committing suicide. Accused's mother's aunt was mentally affected. .Accused left with the 40th Reinforcements and went through the terrible epidemic experienced on the Tahiti after the » vessel "info Sierra Leone.

Mr Wilford said that tlie defence was thai under section 53 of the Crimps Act. the prisoner was free from the responsibility of his action. Accused was suffering from specific delusions. Doctors had talked with him in gaol and had all come separately to the same conclusion, that accused was not accountable for what he had done. He was suffering from a mental disease known as paranoia. Drs Fyfe. Gow. Prijiz and Litchfield gave evidence thai- ihcy had found accused to he a man who did not appear to realise his position. He suffered from delusions, and laughed at his offence.