THE MAKARAKA MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19124, 19 March 1924, Page 8

THE MAKARAKA MURDER

SCOTT FOUND GUILTY. SENTENCE OF DEATH PASSED. (Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE, March 18. The trial concluded in the Supreme Court to-day of Robert Henry Scott on a charge of murdering Gwendoline Catherine Murray, 12 years of age, at Makaraka on January 2a Detective M’Leod produced a letter written by accused to bis father, which stated: “God forgive me for bringing this shame and sorrow to you. May God have mercy. I expect none in this world. Whatever came over me to do that,, God only knows and understands. Ho knows that T could not master myself, and seldom could. All I can do is to tell the truth and take the law’s punishment whatever it may be, and rest in His hands.” For the defence counsel placed accused in the witness box. Accused, speaking in a firm voice, said he was 34 years of age in May. His mother’s father had been in an asylum since before prisoner could remember. His. father’s father had committed suicide and his sister had been subject to a nervous disorder. Prisoner had been informed at times that she was quite insane. One of his father’s relatives had been convicted in Wanganui for, he believed, a sexual offence. Witness had suffered from a nasal complaint from birth and as a child had had an obnoxious discharge from the nose. He had never had the sense of smell. His school life was hell because ho was shunned by his playmates, who made a butt of him. He was convicted in 1911 of stealing bicycles and was sentenced to five months in gaol and three years’ reformative treatment. He was sent to Lyttelton Gaol and was put in the tailors’ shop with the sexual offenders and habitual criminals. Later ho was sent to a tree-planting camp, and then to Auckland for medical treatment of his nasal trouble. After being discharged from gaol he went to Wellington, and being thirsty he went to a house for a drink. He found no one at home, and he took a suit of clothes. That night ho realised what he had done and he gave himself up to the police, receiving one year’s gaol and three years reformative treatment. He was later medically examined and sent to Auckland being discharged in 1917. He enlisted, but owing to illness saw no fighting. He did not remember about the murder except what he stated in his confession. , Medical evidence was also called for the defence to support counsel’s contention that prisoner did not know what he was doing at the time. . , , . TT Counsel addressed the jury and his Honor summed up. The jury retired at 6.4 D and returned at 7.50 with a verdict of guilty. Sentence of death was then pronounced.