A BABY’S DEATH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19270, 6 September 1924, Page 7

A BABY’S DEATH.

FATHER CHARGED WITH MURDER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. - (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 5. / Harry Joseph Peters, alias Keiigh, aged 43, was charged in the Police ,<Qnort with the murder of Desmond no August 5. i; Dr Fullerton, describing the wobnds on the dead baby, said that on the right side of the neck was an irregular jagged wound about two inches long. He saw the baby j in the front room. The body was stjH warm. He saw a broken dessert knife lying on a soap box in the kitchen, It was possible for the wounds to bo caused.! by such a knife. Witness said to accused: “Have you killed this child?” Accused said, “Yos.” Witness then said: “Did you kill it with the knife?” Accused replied “Yes.” Accused added that he did not know why he did it. Ho seemed dazed, and answered questions only in monosyllables. In reply to a question if he had been taking liquor recently, Peters said he bad not. There were faint, scratches of blood under his chin. Cross-examined, witness said accused told him ho had just fed the baby; that it bod not cried or irritated him. /

Dr Murray, who performed a post-mortem examination, said the baby was welt’ nourished and developed. Ho was of opinion that death was due to suffocation ■ caused by blood entering the lungs from ' a wound in the windpipe. Constable Allan said he had been watch* ing Peters, who had a prohibition order against him. On August 4- he asked Peters how ho was getting on. Peters replied. "Oh, it’s a worry being out of work.” He denied that he had been drinking. Ke looked a very sick man, but was rational and normal. There were no signs of drink on him. On the day of the tragedy wit- ’ ness asked accused what he had done. He replied: ‘T’vo killed my boy; I got a sudden impulse.” Detective Robertson deposed that he saw accused at the detective office at 5 p.m. on the day of the tragedy. He asked, accused what was the matter. Accused wanted witness to take his statement, and after it was typed out he read, it through, j Accused said it was true, and signed it. On the bottom of the statement he wrote: 1 bitterly regret the whole affair.” John Fitzgerald, sergeant of police, stationed at Freeman’s Bay, said ho knew accused. On August 5 last, about 3.45 p.m., witness received a message from the city watchhouse. an'd in consequence he went to Franklin road. He met Mr* Peters, who was carrying a dead body. Accused was sitting on a chair in the kitchen, and he seemed greatly agitated. Witness asked Peters why he had caused all the trouble, and he replied: “1 wanted to commit suicide, but the child was .too good to leave behind.” Accused said; he had killed the child with a knife. - Witaefra iook accused to the police station, Wtefeto he made a remark about Desmond andrtds sister being taken to church to be. be|jtised. Accused said that Desmond: only been partially baptised, and «tn£cse (accused) had completed the baptism.-, bafpro he killed the baby. Mr Mouatt: Did Mrs Peters tell ypa that her husband was mentally wrong?' Witness: I don’t remember Her: spying that. She saw me on July 31, ahil -complained about him drinking. ’Si. n Accused pleaded not guilty and ’ yetarved his defence, and was committed itit-tgmL