OLDFIELD MURDER CASE

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 71

OLDFIELD MURDER CASE

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. ACT DUE TO INSANITY. TIMARU, February 5. In the Supreme Court. Jack Oldfield, against whom a true bill was returned by the grand jury yesterday, was arraigned on a charge that he did, at Seadown, on January 13, murder his wife, Christine Oldfield (nee Sutherland) by striking her on the head with an axe. Mr Justice Adams was on the bench. Mr W. D. Campbell (Crown prosecutor) conducted the prosecut on, and Mr F. J. Rolleston appeared for the defence, the accused pleading not guilty to the indictment. The proceedings aroused much interest, and the court was crowded. The accused is a member of a highly respected Seadowu family, and his farm is comprised of some of the best land in South Canterbury. It was stated in evidence by a witness that the accused was short of ready money, but otherwise his financial position should not have given him any cause for worry. Before her marriage the deceased was a masseuse, and practised her profession in Timaru and Christchurch. Mr Campbell said that the case was a distressing one, but the facts were simple. The jury would have no difficulty in arriving at a decision

Dr Scannell repeated the evidence given by him in the lower court, saying that he arrived at the scene at 7.30 on the morning of the tragedy, when he saw the body of the desea-ed in bed with a gaping wound in her skull, apparently inflicted by an instrument such as an axe (produced). Eldred Charles Oldfield, a brother of the accused, related in detail the evidence given in the Magistrate’s Court, saying that his brother came to witness’s farm about 6.30 asking for the loan of cartridges, as he wanted to shoot rabbits The accused obtained the cartridges from the house, and then made to leave for home. Before he had gone far the accused called out, “Good-bye, Eldred.’’ Witness saw the accused with a gun evidently endeavouring to reach the trigger with the intention of shooting himself. Witness closed with the accused and obtained possession of the gun, and then obtained assistance, and had the accused secured. Ihe latter said: “ You mav as well let me finish it. as 1 have killed Chrissy.” The gun was loaded. It did not go off, because the accused did not know how to operate the safety catch. Witness gave an account of his visit to the accused s house, and the finding of the dead woman. When witness reached the house Mrs Oldfield was still breathing, lie informed the police of the occurrence. I’e accused had served in the Great War, where he had suffered certain injuries. Jf.e was the recipient of a war pension. Witness lived about half a mile from accused s residence. After returning from the front the accused continued to work on his father’s farm, but about four years ago he acquired two properties of his own. The accused was inarmed on December 19 in Christchurch. He returned to beadown on December 28. Prior to his marriage witness saw the accused frequently, as they were co-managers of the Oldfield Estate, and after his marriage he saw him daily. As far as witness was aware the accused was happily married. He was an industrious man. The accused was always talking about money troubles. He seemed to be afraid that he could not make the farm pay now that he was married. Witness had offered to lend him money. The accused had obtained 1800 from the estate on the Saturday night before the tragedy. Witness and the accused had discussed the latter’s financial position. He was solvent.

Arthur Duncan, a labourer, employed by Eldred Oldfield, stated that he saw the accused between 7 and 7.30 a.m. on January 13, when he was struggling with his brother. Witness assisted Eldred Oldfield to overcome the accused. The latter said; “I’ve killed my wife,” and then added: “ I’ve killed Chrissy.” Witness asked the accused if he and his wife had quarrelled, but his reply was in the negative.

In answer to questions the witness agreed that the accused was a very hard worker. He was probably overtaxing hie strength. He was glum and irritable. The accused was cheerful before his marriage. He told witness that his married life was all right, but it meant additional worry. Opening the defence, Mr Rolleston read a letter written by the deceased to her sister on January 9, in which she said: “We are slowly getting the rooms straight, and they look very nice. 1 get very, very tired, and John gets very worried if he secs me looking ill, =o I always pul] a face when I see him coming. However, I will soon get used to it. I'm afraid, Annie, things are far from satisfactory on the farm here. It has come as an awful shock No wonder Jack has been worried about money. The fact is the farm is gradually dropping money every year, and is not paying. Jack is nearly off his head with worry, and what with trying to pacify him and to keep a brave face myself I can tell you it’s hard. I really have been too dispirited to write before. I don't know what we will do, as I can't see how he can make a success of this place at all. It looks as if he will lose every penny here.” Dr Beale said, in reply to Mr Rolleston, that melancholia had insanity as one of its accompaniments.. From the events following the tragedy he was of the opinion that the accused had suicidal tendencies, and he thought that that was accused’s condition before the tragedy. There was evidence of a clouding of consciousness after the tragedy. When a constable charged him with murder he only shook h:s head, but at 8.30, when the confused stated of mind was passing off, his first remark was: “ Why did I do it? ” The fact that the accused did not think of the safety catch on the gun was further evidence of his muddled state of mind at the time.

To Mr Campbell: He had been regarding Oldfield from the medical point of view, and all his observations and conclusions were based on every point of view possible. The cause of the tragedy would be the accused’s indefinite mental condition immediately before killing his wife.

The accused would be insane also at the time he struck.

When asked by Mr Campbell to fill in the prescribed form certifying insanity, witness said he was not working on actual facts, but facts as communicated to him. The accused s genera! morbid outlook gave visible signs of impending insanity. At . the present ime witness thought he could certify the accused for a mental hospital. Dr F. F. A. Ulrich (Timaru) said the accused first came under his charge in the Timaru Military Hospital some years ago when he was suffering from a form of paralysis caused by a gunshot wound He was a nervous man. and a bad sleeper. His depression would be worse in the early morning. His depression and agitation were most marked when witness saw him first, and in his opinion the accused had already made up his mind a week before the tragedy to take his life. In witness’s opinion the accused was suffering from simple melancholia. No doubt the accused thought over the shame and misery for his wife if he committed suicide. On the morning of the act he evidently suddenly decided to take his wife with him, and the tragedy was the result. In answer to a question drafted by his Honor, witness said he was of the opinion that melancholia was the cause of the act. In answer to other questions witness said he considered that the accused had been driven on by the dread of a calamity. His action was accentuated by impulse. To Mr Rolleston: The murder of the accused's wife would be part and parcel of accused's own suicidal impulse. That opinion was based on the accused’s symptoms of melancholia.

Mr , Campbell then presented the Crown’s medical evidence.

Dr A. C. M’Kiilop, superintendent of the Sunnyside Mental Hospital, stated that he had examined the accused, who described the tragedy to him. It was difficult to base any particular form of insanity on the symptoms, but there was no doubt that the accused was suffering from acute depression. He would know what he was doing at the time, and know it was wrong. Witness did not think it was a sudden impulse that caused the act.

Dr T. W. J. Charts, superintendent oi the Seacliff Mental Hospital, said from his examination of the accused tie gathered that the accused was mentally depressed. Referring to the tragedy, the accused had stated that he had considered doing away with himself. This state of mind had been growing on him for some time, and definitely took shape

about seven days before the crime. I n witness’s opinion the accused had planned what he intended to do. He would know that kililng a person was wrong, but in the state of misery he was in he no doubt felt justified The act »uuld not be an impulsive one. but th.j accused no doubt toyed with the idea, and had gone over it many times. The jury retired at 5.27 p.m., and returned 20 minutes later with a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity. The accused was committed to the Sunnyside Mental Hospital until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice is known. His Honor stated that he thoroughly agreed with t-he verdict.