SHOCKING DOMESTIC TRADGEDY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2402, 15 March 1900, Page 66

SHOCKING DOMESTIC TRADGEDY.

AN INFANT MURDERED.

WELLINGTON, March 9,

'A horrible murder was committed this evening. John Deighton, described as a cabinetmaker, aged 39 years, residing in Upper Cuba street, murdering his twelve-weeks-old infant named Moane Caroline Rebecca Deigliton.

Deighton, who is said to have been a ■Jrabbiter employed on Mr Beetham's station fct Wairarapa, some short time back contracted a marriage with a Mrs Strangemuir, and the union is believed not to ihave been a happy one, owing, it is alleged, to domestic infelicity. For some time Deighton has complained of the neglect of the murdered infant by its mother, and during the absence of the latter from home this evening Deightou took a razor and cut the infant's throat almost from ear to ear. The spinal cord was severed, death being instantaneous!.

After committing the crime Deigliton proceeded to Mount Cook police station, and gave himself up, giving as his reason for taking the life of the child that he thought it would be better if dead than neglected as it had been. He was quite Sational. The Deightons appear to be leople in fairly good circumstances, Mrs )eighton on the death of her former husiband being left in the possession of some property. Deigliton bears a good character, and what was the reason of the sudden impulse is not yet explained, as the man had not been drinking.

March 11,

At the inquest on the infant Deighton, murdered by* it£ father, a verdict of murder against John Deighton was returned. The evidence in the main bore out the particulars already wired, with the addition bhat accused, in his statement to the police )bad declared his intention was to take the life of his wife and, child. His wife was

absent when he committed the murder of the infant, and his nerve failed him when about to take Ms own life". He says he was quite sane at the time, and never gave way to intemperance, having only once in his life been under the influence of liquor. The medical examination of the murdered infant Deighton showed it had been well nourished.

John Deigi^ton was charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning Avith the murder of his infant, and remanded to Wednesday next.